Page 35 - The story of the Art of Learning

2nd level: The Art of Learning themes
Below the Art of Learning Performative learning theory is the 2nd level of the
content: The Art of Learning themes. The themes equal a thematic framework and
a structure built around the sessions in Art of Learning, framing the content into 24 different thematic superstructures. The reasoning behind the thematic structure is to
give space and time for digging deeper into a thematic concept, allowing for deep learning. Also, the theme structure gives a certain level of predictability for both students, teachers and artists. Though the Art of Learning advocates change, diverse learning methodology, surprises and non-predictable learning set-ups, the thematic framework gives a sense of something being known, a stability for the sessions within each theme.
Each theme is structured in the same way, built from 6 sessions spread over a period of 2 weeks in school. Sessions 1 and 2 are led by the teacher and the artist together, and the same goes for session 5 and 6. Sessions 3 and 4 differs from the rest, being led by the teacher(s) alone. The structure of the sessions will be described in the next paragraph, but in relation to the theme as a whole it is worth mentioning that session 1 within a theme starts differently from the other sessions, as it normally will start with what we call a “trigger” (see page 8), and session 6 within a theme normally ends with a reflection reflecting not on the session itself, but on the theme as a whole.
The Art of Learning Handbook is structured theme by theme, and can be accessed under IO3 Art of Learning Handbook sessions. (IO3 Art of Learning Handbook sessions in cursive.)
This example shows how a typical 2-week theme period could look like, here from grade 3 in Alvdal school (Norway):
Day of the week
Time
Session no.
Who is leading
Mon Tue Wed
11.30 - 08.30 - 13.00 10.00
Session 1 Session 2
Teacher Teacher and artist and artist
Thur
Fri
08.30 - 10.00
Session 3 Teacher
Mon
11.30 - 13.00
Session 4 Teacher
Tue Wed Thur Fri
11.30 - 08.30 - 13.00 10.00
Session 5 Session 6
Teacher Teacher and artist and artist
Theme 15 Virus is a typical theme in Art of Learning: this theme, and all the six sessions within this theme focus on the three agents in the body’s fight against a virus threat: the lungs (the breathing factory), the viruses (the secret agents) and the immune system (the soldiers). The warm-up in theme 15 is a dance medley, where students move to different types of music, each representing the different agents in the body. In the main activities, the students are working with the different agents, the Breathing factory, the Virus and the Immune system through miming, drawing, outdoor games, creating mind-maps collecting their knowledge, and more.
The daily reflection in theme 15 is done through using clay as a mean of remembering.
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