STUDENT NUMBER:
PST210G
ASSIGNMENT 02
UNIQUE NO.: 823385
SEMESTER: 01
DATE: 08 MAY 2020
, QUESTION 1:
Name and discuss any five (5) advantages of creative arts teaching.
Odendaal & De Jager [2017:9-10] lists eleven distinctive advantages of creative arts in the
school curriculum. Five of which are mentioned and discussed as follows:
1.1. It develops critical thinking:
Odendaal & De Jager also points out specific aspects of Arts Education, namely:
Constructively criticizing art, receiving feedback, listening and working as part of a group all
contribute to developing a learner’s collaborative skills.
All learners are unique and receive stimulus in different ways. This means that different art-
forms contribute differently to the development of different learners’ collaborative skills.
An art form like visual arts don’t necessarily require collaboration between learners, due to
the fact that the art-form is a means of expressing individuality, but one can argue that a
person needs to be in touch with his individuality in order to be able to collaborate well
with others.
Other art forms like music, dance and drama are usually practiced in a group and require
quite the amount of collaboration with others. One could see this as various individuals
forming a whole. If any single member of this integrated whole digresses from this principle
the entre art-work would be at stake.
With the above mentioned in mind, one can argue that people who practice art-forms that
are collaborative in nature, build collaborative skills that can be applied in everyday life.
1.2. Creative arts teaching prepares learners for success in the workplace:
The book also points out that creative thinking skills are a necessity for being successful in
any career.
A good art education can have a grand impact on one’s problem-solving skills, decision
making and general creativity. These skills are not solely useful in the workspace, but are
also invaluable skills to possess in any sphere of life – from raising a child, cooking, planning
a budget or an event or even just partaking in a meaningful discussion with someone.
1.3. Creative arts teaching facilitates cross-cultural understanding:
A clear and reasonable argument that the authors bring forth is that learners gain tolerance
as well as respect for other cultures through exposure to their art forms through collective
engagement with people from other cultures during performances or various other forms
of group activities.
Art and culture go hand-in-hand with one another. Dance and music are an expression of
culture whereas visual arts depict the expression of the artist rooted in a certain culture
and drama tells a story within a cultural context. Art will always be some form of cultural
expression, be it subtle or not. Therefore, arts education is also a lesson in culture.
1 PST210G Assignment 02 [823385]
, 1.4. Creative arts teaching improves learners’ academic performance:
The textbook [Odendaal & De Jager 2017] expresses that creative thinking skills can improve
academic success and that arts education can help develop a learner’s higher order thinking
skills.
Albeit creative arts are not predominantly a field that emphasizes intellectual development,
but rather self-expression, but in accordance to the authors’ argument, one could deem that
comprehensive engagement with the arts requires higher order thinking skills.
Another suggestion on why Creative Arts education improves academic performance is in
the fact that art education works differently than other subjects in the school curriculum.
The school day is dominated by subjects that primarily demand the learners to engage
intellectually and keep a (sometimes strenuous) level of concentration. The concentration
levels of the learners tend to decline throughout the day. The strain can be relieved in an art
education classroom as its elements are, albeit intellectual; practical, expressive and
introspective. This allows learners to “recover” some of that depleted intellectual capacity
and concentrate more in subsequent classes.
1.5. Creative arts teaching develops learners’ self-esteem:
The prescribed textbook quotes research done by the Australian council for Educational
Research, which suggests that art education improves self-esteem of learners from
disadvantaged or dysfunctional backgrounds, because these learners gain confidence when
completing an art-piece or performance.
Practicing art entails elements of self-expression and is in the widest sense therapeutic
which can help in developing a positive self-esteem and redefine one’s self-image.
2 PST210G Assignment 02 [823385]
PST210G
ASSIGNMENT 02
UNIQUE NO.: 823385
SEMESTER: 01
DATE: 08 MAY 2020
, QUESTION 1:
Name and discuss any five (5) advantages of creative arts teaching.
Odendaal & De Jager [2017:9-10] lists eleven distinctive advantages of creative arts in the
school curriculum. Five of which are mentioned and discussed as follows:
1.1. It develops critical thinking:
Odendaal & De Jager also points out specific aspects of Arts Education, namely:
Constructively criticizing art, receiving feedback, listening and working as part of a group all
contribute to developing a learner’s collaborative skills.
All learners are unique and receive stimulus in different ways. This means that different art-
forms contribute differently to the development of different learners’ collaborative skills.
An art form like visual arts don’t necessarily require collaboration between learners, due to
the fact that the art-form is a means of expressing individuality, but one can argue that a
person needs to be in touch with his individuality in order to be able to collaborate well
with others.
Other art forms like music, dance and drama are usually practiced in a group and require
quite the amount of collaboration with others. One could see this as various individuals
forming a whole. If any single member of this integrated whole digresses from this principle
the entre art-work would be at stake.
With the above mentioned in mind, one can argue that people who practice art-forms that
are collaborative in nature, build collaborative skills that can be applied in everyday life.
1.2. Creative arts teaching prepares learners for success in the workplace:
The book also points out that creative thinking skills are a necessity for being successful in
any career.
A good art education can have a grand impact on one’s problem-solving skills, decision
making and general creativity. These skills are not solely useful in the workspace, but are
also invaluable skills to possess in any sphere of life – from raising a child, cooking, planning
a budget or an event or even just partaking in a meaningful discussion with someone.
1.3. Creative arts teaching facilitates cross-cultural understanding:
A clear and reasonable argument that the authors bring forth is that learners gain tolerance
as well as respect for other cultures through exposure to their art forms through collective
engagement with people from other cultures during performances or various other forms
of group activities.
Art and culture go hand-in-hand with one another. Dance and music are an expression of
culture whereas visual arts depict the expression of the artist rooted in a certain culture
and drama tells a story within a cultural context. Art will always be some form of cultural
expression, be it subtle or not. Therefore, arts education is also a lesson in culture.
1 PST210G Assignment 02 [823385]
, 1.4. Creative arts teaching improves learners’ academic performance:
The textbook [Odendaal & De Jager 2017] expresses that creative thinking skills can improve
academic success and that arts education can help develop a learner’s higher order thinking
skills.
Albeit creative arts are not predominantly a field that emphasizes intellectual development,
but rather self-expression, but in accordance to the authors’ argument, one could deem that
comprehensive engagement with the arts requires higher order thinking skills.
Another suggestion on why Creative Arts education improves academic performance is in
the fact that art education works differently than other subjects in the school curriculum.
The school day is dominated by subjects that primarily demand the learners to engage
intellectually and keep a (sometimes strenuous) level of concentration. The concentration
levels of the learners tend to decline throughout the day. The strain can be relieved in an art
education classroom as its elements are, albeit intellectual; practical, expressive and
introspective. This allows learners to “recover” some of that depleted intellectual capacity
and concentrate more in subsequent classes.
1.5. Creative arts teaching develops learners’ self-esteem:
The prescribed textbook quotes research done by the Australian council for Educational
Research, which suggests that art education improves self-esteem of learners from
disadvantaged or dysfunctional backgrounds, because these learners gain confidence when
completing an art-piece or performance.
Practicing art entails elements of self-expression and is in the widest sense therapeutic
which can help in developing a positive self-esteem and redefine one’s self-image.
2 PST210G Assignment 02 [823385]
