Art & Inquiry: Museum Teaching Strategies For Your Classroom

About this course: Explore how to integrate works of art into your classroom with inquiry-based teaching methods originally developed for in-gallery museum education.

Who is this class for: This course is designed for both classroom teachers and educators in informal settings. Its focus is on primary and secondary education, but in some cases the content can be adapted to the requirements of higher education. No prior knowledge of art history or museum-based teaching practice is required. Please note: If you want to complete the course and earn a Course Certificate by submitting assignments for a grade, you can pay the course fee. You can apply for financial aid if you can’t afford the course fee. For any questions about the certificates, please consult the Coursera Learner Help Center.

Created by:  The Museum of Modern Art

• Taught by:  Lisa Mazzola, Assistant Director, School and Teacher Programs

  Department of Education

Commitment 4 weeks, x 2 hours of study per week, plus 2 hours for final project = 10 hours Language English How To Pass Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. User Ratings 4.6 stars Average User Rating 4.6See what learners said Coursework

Each course is like an interactive textbook, featuring pre-recorded videos, quizzes and projects.

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Connect with thousands of other learners and debate ideas, discuss course material, and get help mastering concepts.

Certificates

Earn official recognition for your work, and share your success with friends, colleagues, and employers.

The Museum of Modern Art The Museum of Modern Art is a place that fuels creativity, ignites minds, and provides inspiration. With extraordinary exhibitions and the world's finest collection of modern and contemporary art, MoMA is dedicated to the conversation between the past and the present, the established and the experimental. Our mission is helping you understand, enjoy, and use the art of our time.

Syllabus


WEEK 1


Module 1: Introduction to Inquiry | Why Engage in Inquiry Around Art?



This course will introduce ways to integrate works of art into your classroom by using inquiry-based teaching methods commonly used in museum settings. It is designed to give you the tools to create meaningful object-based learning activities that can be integrated into a wide variety of curricula. All the strategies covered emphasize literacy and critical thinking skills that connect across disciplines.


2 videos, 1 reading expand

1. Video: 1.1 Introduction to Inquiry: Why Engage in Inquiry Around Art?
2. Video: 1.2 Why Engage in Inquiry Around Art?
3. Reading: 1.3 Required Readings & Additional Resources

Graded: 1.4 Quiz

WEEK 2


Module 2: Close-Looking and Open-Ended Inquiry



In this module we will discuss and review the different ways that you can facilitate close-looking with your students and engaging in open-ended, inquiry-based conversation around works of art. Don’t wait to start practicing! Grab a friend or a family member and start leading inquiry-based conversation around a work of art, or anything. As you will see in the Google Hangout video, you can use a digital image or any object that you have around that would lend itself to leading an inquiry-based discussion. These practice sessions are not required but the more you practice, the easier and better your classroom performance will be.


3 videos, 1 reading expand

1. Video: 2.1 Introduction to Close-Looking and Open-Ended Inquiry
2. Video: 2.2 Close-Looking and Open-Ended Inquiry
3. Video: 2.3 Inquiry in Action: Google Hangout about Art & Identity
4. Reading: 2.4 Required Readings & Additional Resources

Graded: 2.5 Quiz

WEEK 3


Module 3: Activities as Inquiry
This section explores interactive methods that promote an open-ended, two-way exchange of ideas and engage a specific set of skills including close-looking, peer-to-peer learning, creative thinking, and problem-solving.


2 videos, 1 reading expand

1. Video: 3.1 Introduction to Activities as Inquiry
2. Video: 3.2 Activities as Inquiry
3. Reading: 3.3 Required Readings & Additional Resources

WEEK 4


Module 4: Putting it all Together: Making Connections Across Curriculum
In this module we will model ways that you can incorporate inquiry around a work of art into your classroom and make connections to curricula. We will also explore the types of resources that you can access to supplement your lesson development and planning.


4 videos, 1 reading expand

1. Video: 4.1 Introduction to Putting it all Together: Making Connections Across Curriculum
2. Video: 4.2 Putting it all Together: Making Connections Across Curriculum
3. Video: 4.3 #ArtHang with MoMA Learning: Open House with Lisa Mazzola
4. Video: 4.4 #ArtHang with MoMA Learning: Open House with Lisa Mazzola and Author Laurel Schmidt
5. Reading: Funding for Education at MoMA

Graded: Final Project