Art and German Collaboration
December 3, 2009Skowhegan High School
Submitted by Art Teacher and Department Chair Frank Chin
Mike Walker and Paul LeBrun
Mike Walker, German foreign language teacher recently collaborated with Art technology teacher, Paul LeBrun. Their work included integrating technology, art and German language.
Mike Walker, German language teacher said: ….”our roles as teachers is teaching them to think creatively……. by doing this project, my students learned about surrealism and saw what their fellow classmates were doing in a class at the other end of the building. Paul’s students got to see what my German students came up with for titles on their creations.”
Paul LeBrun, technology visual art teacher said: I put up a “word wall” of German words in my computer art room and overheard a student passing by the pictures and exclaim, “Hey, that’s the title I suggested!” To me, that is what learning and education is all about: collaboration, and the more, the better.”
In sharing the disciplines teachers crossed the barrier of departmentalization and enriched the curricula and further experiences demonstrating everything is connected. I am thrilled to see this type of cross curricula with foreign language, technology and the visual arts. It is one of many ways to a holistic approach to education.
You can see examples of the work by clicking here. On the home page of RSU 54 you can see how student art work is featured.
Congratulations to Mike and Paul for taking the time to make curriculum connections. Collaborating is more time consuming and difficult for educators but those who engage in it understand the benefits for students. Thanks to Frank for submitting this blog post. Tell us about the curriculum connections you make with the arts and other content by commenting on this post.
me arts ed 
I am very pleased that Skowhegan Area High School/RSU 54 has made efforts in going beyond departmentalization. Many high schools seem to have their own turf and does not like their space invaded. One way of changing that old habit is to collaborate with other teachers in various disciplines. This offers credence that education in all subject areas are connected.