An Arts plug

As an arts educator and member of the ICI Cohort in our Teacher Education program, I am already a believer in the importance of creativity and innovation, as well as in the value of digital media and visual communication in 21st century learning. In fact, I actually find it amusing really. (Feel free to visualize me stepping up onto my soapbox). Subjects like visual arts have always been on the periphery of “important” education, and those of us who work in the arts are not strangers to the continual necessity to advocate for the value of our subjects. We know the value, and will tell anyone who wants to listen, but so often education decision-makers haven’t wanted to listen –not REALLY. Creative thinking and process, problem solving, critical thinking, emotional intelligence, visual communication, new media visual tools, cognitive flexibility and taking chances are all integral to the arts and their education—ALL 21st century learning skills! It is exciting and frustrating at the same time. It seems only since the cause has been taken up by science and tech, have people started to listen. And of course, what drives this listening is money. It still comes down to economy and business as the driving force. Science and tech carry a lot of weight and they are embedded in our future. But I choose to stay the course, because I believe in it, with my feet firmly planted in the arts, in seeing learning through the arts as the best way to teach our students 21st century skills. If science and tech, or STEAM, can get the arts on the map, I am on board.