ART with MEYERS: The Power of PLCs (Professional Learning Communities)

Thursday, February 18, 2016

The Power of PLCs (Professional Learning Communities)

I was recently interviewed by The Art of Education, an international online graduate study forum specifically designed for art teachers, about my experience of working within our art department PLC here at High Point. Click the link below to view the article.

http://www.theartofed.com/2016/02/10/why-professional-development-is-better-when-done-with-friends/

Below is some of the work I created while taking two courses simultaneously in Studio Printmaking and Studio Ceramics. I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to have taken these courses with my dear friends and creative colleagues, Lisa Hodgins, Jeremy Dearolf, and Kelly Kuzicki.

The Power of Art Education

All children, not only those with specific artistic talent, benefit from an education in the arts. The arts are, in themselves, a vital part of a comprehensive education. Current research suggests that young people who participate in the arts acquire skills that help them in decision making, problem solving, critical thinking, and teamwork. The arts also help motivate children to learn and achieve stronger results in core academic subjects. For some children, the arts even provide the impetus to stay in school and find their way to contribute to society. Creative thinking and art education challenge students to utilize the right-hemisphere of the brain more often, resulting in more holistic thinking and intuitive learning.