Abstract
Statement of Problem
With traditional schooling, curriculum is centered around assessments and teaching to them, which does not allow for much creativity or risk-taking to happen in the classroom. Integrating arts into the curriculum will allow for the content to be introduced to students via different strategies that call for more hands-on learning, which can boost student engagement. This study aims to investigate the impact arts integration strategies can have on the levels of risk-taking and creative confidence in students, which can lead to a shift in curriculum design that is more student-centered.
Sources of Data
The data in this study was collected following mixed methods, including pre- and post-surveys and a focus group. After completing the pre-survey, 21 participants were exposed to pedagogical methods inspired by the framework of arts integration, which the post-survey and focus group sought to answer research questions regarding the methods’ impact on self-reported levels of confidence, creative confidence, and creative self-efficacy.
Conclusions Reached
Participants’ self-reported levels of confidence, creative confidence, and creative self-efficacy were impacted both positively and negatively after participating in two different arts integration units throughout the span of two months. A positive impact was that more students rated themselves as being creative at the end of the study compared to the beginning. Conversely more students reported negative feelings when having to try new things in school at the end of the study.