Running head: LOOKING FORWARD

Looking Forward
Collette Sanchez
National University

LOOKING FORWARD

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Abstract

This paper describes my plan of Looking Forward and highlights five professional development
opportunities that will increase my knowledge in visual arts pedagogy and the steps leading to
my ultimate goal, which is developing an AP Art History course at my current school site. The
professional development opportunities in visual arts and art history are documented over a fiveyear timeline and include my personal explanations for each opportunity chosen.

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Looking Forward

The range of professional development opportunities for arts educators that I have
researched include a national arts education convention, online classes for arts educators,
continued education in a masters program, association with an honors society, and an AP course
implementation workshop.

The organizations who offer these professional development

opportunities are the National Art Education Association, The Art of Education, Academy of
Art University, National Art Honor Society, and The College Board.
Timeline
Self-Assessment

Support

Available Time

(Change and Improve)

(Resources)

(Duration and Order)

National Art Education

March 17 20, 2016

Online Classes:
The Art of Ed

Attend bi-annually
from 2016 - 2020

Improve:
Teaching art in the
21st century

Improve:
Subject-specific
pedagogy

Offered annually

Each class is
80 hours (4 weeks)
and 2 5 Credits
Classes are offered
year-round

Evidence of Achievement
Membership
Lead PD at own school site to
inform colleagues of best
practices in arts integration
Credits in:
Assessment in Art Ed
Choice Based Art Ed
Connecting Art to the Common
Core
Designing Your Art Curriculum
Reaching All Artists Through
Differentiation
Flipping the Art Room
Showing Student Growth in Art
Integrating Art History
Studio Printmaking
Studio Drawing

Change:
Register for local
chapter

National Arts Honor

Register chapter
every year in order
to remain active

Membership
Provide evidence of student
artwork and high standards of
teaching

Improve:
Teaching art history

Continued Education:
Academy of Art
University online
Masters in Art History

Fall 2017 Spring

Certification:
Masters in Art History

2-year program

Teach art analysis and

Increase content
knowledge and use
of the CCSS

LOOKING FORWARD

Change:
Increase courses
offered at current
school site to include
AP Art History

Workshop:
College Board
AP Art History

Spring 2018
Offered bi-annually
in California

Credit:
Professional qualifications for
teaching AP Art History

Personal Explanations
According to The National Art Education Association (2016) this professional
development opportunity allows art educators to update themselves on the vista of state-of-the
art materials to advance visual art instruction in local art programs.

I believe continued

membership with the NAEA allows my teaching practice to remain up to date so that I may
cohesively blend the expectations of the 2001 California Visual Arts Standards and the current
2014 National Art Standards. The California Standards are outdated, whereas the National Art
Standards cover a range of skills that include integration of technology (21 st Century Skills) and
college-readiness (The Common Core).

Attending the annual conference connects me to

innovative ideas in arts education, provides support in best practice teaching, and establishes
connections with leading professionals in arts education, art museums, and community arts
organizations. I have attended the NAEA Convention in the past two years and I am a strong
supporter of new and veteran teachers attending the convention as often as possible in order to
keep their practice alive and relevant to the ever-changing standards.
The Art of Education prides themselves on providing quality, accredited online classes
that are designed to meet the needs of arts educators. According to AOE (2016) arts educators
who take their classes receive top-notch course material that can be applied directly to the
classroom while being completed in a teachers spare time, such as at night or on the weekends.
I like the flexibility of choosing specialized classes that are most beneficial to my teaching
practice and the needs of my students. I also enjoy that AOE classes are one month long and

LOOKING FORWARD

rigorous, which is similar to the classes offered by National University. The online courses are
affordable and flexible, being offered every month and all year-round. I look forward to taking
the classes intermittingly throughout the next five years of my professional development plan.
The benefit of attending the Academy of Art University is that students get to complete
the Masters program in Art History online while also satisfying studio art requirements that are
meant to expand their own artistic practice. According to Academy of Art University (2016)
students get to study art history and fine art together, from anywhere in the world. Although the
program is expensive, I am drawn to the idea that students can learn art history and perfect their
own art practice at the same time. I have lost touch with my own art making and I think this
program would not only satisfy my goal for continued education in art history, but also allow me
to grow as a fine artist. I have spent the last six years concentrating on teaching art rather than
making art and I believe this program would satisfy both of my personal needs in a very dynamic
way and inevitably benefit how I teach my students to create and analyze visual art.
After accomplishing the three professional development opportunities listed above, I will
be qualified as a department lead at my school site and be able to register my school at the
National Art Honor Society. According to NAHS (2016) registering a school as an honor
society chapter will provide national recognition and opportunities for students and teachers
who exhibit outstanding scholarship in the visual arts. I believe that there are some general
educators and administrators who view art class as an optional experience despite that it is a
required course for students to graduate high school. The arts teach creativity, communication,
critical thinking and collaboration, which are skills necessary for college-readiness and career
paths. My hope is that registering my school in a local chapter will advocate the necessity of arts
education to my schools board, administration, staff and the surrounding community.

LOOKING FORWARD

The College Board offers workshops throughout California that prepare teachers to
develop and implement an AP courses at their school site. After completing a Masters Degree in
Art History I will need a legitimate supporting organization like College Board to pave the way
for establishing an AP Art History course at my school. According to College Board (2016) AP
gives students the academic skills they need in college and can also give students more time to
concentrate on the subjects that interest them. Offering an AP Art History course at my school
may encourage students to explore other forms of history and writing, while satisfying their
curiosity of looking at images in a profound and scholarly way.

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References

California State Board of Education (2001) California visual arts standards. Online resource.
Retrieved January 17, 2016, from http://www.cde.ca.gov/be/st/ss/vamain.asp
National Art Honor Society (2015-16) Establish a new chapter. Online resource. Retrieved
January 17, 2016, from http://www.arteducators.org/community/nahs/establish-a-newchapter
SEADAE (2014) National core arts standards. Online resource. Retrieved January 17, 2016,
from http://www.nationalartsstandards.org/
The Academy of Art University (2016) Online art history degree programs. Online resource.
Retrieved January 17, 2016, from http://www.academyart.edu/academics/arthistory/online-degrees
The Art of Education. (2016) Online classes. Online resource. Retrieved January 17, 2016, from
http://www.theartofed.com/classes/
The College Board (2016) AP students. Online resource. Retrieved January 17, 2016, from
http://apstudent.collegeboard.org/home?navid=gh-aps
The Common Cores State Standards Initiative (2016) English language arts standards. Online
resource. Retrieved January 17, 2016, from http://www.corestandards.org/ELA-Literacy/