[May 3, 2023 | 7pm ET] Learner-centered art education recognizes the potential of art education as an entry point for culture and connection through the lived experiences of a learning community. Join a panel of educators who explore curriculum and pedagogy at the center of learner inquiry using multimodal approaches centered on stories, context, and meaning-making.

[April 5, 2023 | 7pm ET] What is inquiry? How do we encourage inquiry in our art rooms? Are inquiry and creativity connected? What does inquiry-based learning look like in the studio? Why is authentic inquiry important? Join us for answers to these and other questions as we discuss the research on, importance of, and relationship between inquiry and art education. The art education landscape is shifting to better support the emergent needs of contemporary learners. Pedagogies that embrace culturally responsive teaching, social–emotional learning (SEL), and trauma-informed teaching find commonality in student-centered, choice-based learning models. In these models, learners develop strategies for creating and using lines of inquiry to hypothesize, investigate, and solve problems. We will look at scaffolding inquiry to foster intrinsic motivation, feeding our students exploratory experiences which empower them to pursue their own independent line of inquiry, and supporting inquiry in various classroom situations. The presenters will share both research-based applications and real-world experience in preK–12 educational settings.

[March 1, 2023 | 7pm ET] Join us as we unpack the meaning and characteristics of an inclusive learning environment through art while uncovering a variety of pedagogical approaches and instructional strategies to build inclusive communities in your learning spaces. Learn firsthand how inclusive community building has helped students develop a stronger sense of belonging and how studying a community’s local history and its demographic landscape helps to expand understanding of inclusive learning. Come away with strategies to align art teaching resources with cultural competence in order to address issues related to diversity, social justice, and inclusion.

[January 11, 2023 | 7pm ET ] There are many therapeutic possibilities of artmaking with youth, and your art room can be a healthy space for this to happen. Explore pedagogical practices and classroom structures through the lens of the mental health needs of all students, including developing a sketchbook practice for nonverbal communication and building a safe and trusting environment in the art studio. Discover new ways to address and support student behaviors that prevent engagement and joy in artmaking, such as perfectionism or lack of confidence. Sample project and activity ideas offering a range of therapeutic benefits to student artists in Grades K–8 will be shared.

[December 7, 2022 | 7pm ET] Join us as we explore nurturing gifted and talented students in Title I schools. Come away with curriculum examples, lessons addressing community-specific needs, and fresh theories and philosophies of teaching that can help lead your students to take creative risks to help them grow and develop in the arts. Presenters will share dual approaches to expanding student progress, equipping you with enhanced support to help students find their voices as artists.

[November 2, 2022 | 7pm ET] Looking for ways to help students to create, participate with, and respond to contemporary art and visual culture in more critical ways? Do you wonder how to support literacy in the art room through more than just writing prompts? Join us as we explore new media literacy—a discipline that features many elements analogous with art education. Dive into exciting case study research (exploring Hamilton, Kehinde Wiley, and the Carters) and find ways you can successfully incorporate new media principles to support a different form of literacy in your teaching space.

[October 12, 2022] We live in a world of change, inciting ever-evolving design trends and technologies requiring artists and designers to lead the way. Join us as we explore a wide range of creative career opportunities for students passionate about creating, making, building, and telling stories. The collaboration, creative problem-solving, critical-thinking, and entrepreneurial skills honed in art and design disciplines are transferrable and relevant to a wide range of industries, and can help launch successful and sustainable careers. As future seasoned design thinkers, these creatives are poised to find innovative and inventive solutions to meet the needs of the 21st century and beyond.

[September 7, 2022] Current political situations can be difficult for art educators to navigate. Join us as we explore practical strategies for teaching social justice through a K–12 lens. Discover ways to include all learners in the process of developing, creating, and presenting social justice artworks while incorporating inclusive communication strategies. Use this process to develop a proactive approach to teaching potentially uncomfortable topics while facilitating difficult conversations in the art room. A Library of Congress representative will also share how primary sources in their collections can be valuable teaching tools—photographs, newspaper articles, posters, correspondence, and more can capture student attention and provide historical points of entry into social justice topics that resonate today.

[August 10, 2022] How do you give learners ownership in developing a personal visual voice that is inspired by what interests them in their world? Intrigue them through carefully formulated questions and choice challenges that guide them to the discovery of their own “big ideas.” They will come away thinking like a professional photographer and creating meaningful works of art.

[July 6, 2022] The art classroom is a lab for creativity. How can you, as an art educator, leverage your creative expertise to generate a whole-school impact? Join us as we explore strategies and approaches to nurture a creative mindset and build creative confidence with learners and colleagues. Registered participants will receive access to online resources and are encouraged to have colorful materials on hand to make thinking visible.