Contemporary vs. Traditional Teaching Methods as seen at the PA Governor's Schools for the Arts

by Catherine Gasper and Meagan McGonigle (O'Toole)

MOTIVATION FOR OUR PROJECT

The 2000 PA Governor's Institute for Arts Educators was held during the week of July 9th at Gannon University in Erie, Pennsylvania.  As participants in this program, we were exposed to the proposed PA Arts Standards.(7.1 J and K)  Although there are four areas of concentration, this year's focus was on the traditional and contemporary technologies for producing, performing, and exhibiting works in the arts. 

CATHERINE'S BIOGRAPHY

A 1986 graduate from Clarion University of PA., I began my career in Education teaching high school English and Theater in Chantilly, Virginia. Since then, I returned to my home state of Pennsylvania where I have taught dance and choreographed and co-directed high school musicals. I also taught English and worked as a Prevention/Intervention specialist for the Community County of Beaver College.  

I am ready to begin my second year teaching English and Theater Arts  for the South Butler County School District in Saxonburg, PA.  I teach at Knoch High School and also direct our Fall Production and Spring Musical.  I was inspired to attend this workshop to incorporate more activities involving both traditional and contemporary teaching methods in both the English and Theater Arts classroom.  This project along with many more has provided me with a wealth of knowledge to take back to the classroom.  I am eager to apply the use of contemporary technology along with t

traditional methods to enhance the students' learning. 

In conjunction with this project, I also had the opportunity to visit with the very talented students selected for the Governor's school for the Arts held at Mercyhurst College.  I plan to attend more workshops and eventually get my masters degree in either Guidance Counseling or Theater Arts. 

MEAGAN'S BIOGRAPHY

A 1994 graduate of Virginia Tech with a B.S. in Biology, I began my teaching career as a middle school science teacher at McClintock Middle School in Charlotte, North Carolina.  After teaching in North Carolina for two years, I returned to my home state of Pennsylvania to continue my teaching career with the Steel Valley School District.

Since returning to the Pittsburgh area, I have explored pottery, photography, and theater at the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts; Film and Literature at the University of Pittsburgh; and Video Productions at Robert Morris College.  I have also continued growing in the area of science through my participation in the 1999 PA Governor's School for the Life Sciences.

Teaching video has enabled me and my students to have the rare opportunity to collaborate on an award-winning documentary project with Pittsburgh Opera and Pittsburgh Filmmakers. Other collaborations have included the Allegheny County Jail, the Munhall Volunteer Fire Department with the Munhall Town Council, and the five schools that make up the Steel Valley School System.

Dance Class

During their five-week stay at the Governor's School, high school juniors and seniors participate in a rigorous dance program which utilizes both traditional and contemporary methods.

During our visit, we observed one such class in session.  As you can see in the above clip, the instructor uses an exchange of dialogue with his students to teach them.  He also models desired dance movements and gestures directly to his students.  Please make note, however, of the "contemporary" television in the background.  It is here that students watch the entire piece of dance as it was previously performed by another dance group.

These teaching methods follow the PA Arts and Humanities Standard 7.1 J and K as referred to in our "motivation" introduction.

Sculpture Studio

The sculpture lab seen above uses purely traditional methods.  Students work with tools, water, and their hands to create works of art.  We enjoyed watching these diligent students hard at work; in fact, many did not even acknowledge our presence.

These teaching methods follow the PA Arts and Humanities Standard 7.1 J and K as referred to in our "motivation" introduction.

Ceramics Studio

At the Governor's School, students are exposed to both traditional and contemporary methods of producing ceramics.  Here we see a student (background) using a traditional pottery wheel powered by her feet while in the foreground a student creates a product using a contemporary pottery wheel--one powered by electricity.

These teaching methods follow the PA Arts and Humanities Standard 7.1 J and K as referred to in our "motivation" introduction.

Drawing Class

During this visit, we observed students sketching landscapes on Mercyhurst's beautiful campus as shown above.  The methods of producing and performing their craft are traditional.  Once again students were engrossed in their work and hardly recognized our presence.

These teaching methods follow the PA Arts and Humanities Standard 7.1 J and K as referred to in our "motivation" introduction.

Acting Class

This video clip shows the interaction between an acting student and his instructor while fellow actors observe.  The methods observed were traditional, such as modeling, observation, and discussion.  The class was held in a campus theater that provided an intimate setting which enhanced these traditional teaching methods.

These teaching methods follow the PA Arts and Humanities Standard 7.1 J and K as referred to in our "motivation" introduction.

Implementing technology into a traditional ballet class.

After talking to Doug Woods, director of the PA Governor's School for the Arts, we learned that ballet dancers learned about body alignment, anatomy, and ballet positions through a computer software program called Lifeforms.   In this clip you can also see a traditional ballet class in which the instructor uses modeling, observation, and discussion to teach her students.

These teaching methods follow the PA Arts and Humanities Standard 7.1 J and K as referred to in our "motivation" introduction.

IT'S A WRAP!

During this project, we not only had the opportunity to visit and observe the Pa. Governor Art students at work, but we also had the experience collaborating with fellow PA teachers throughout the week.  Our goal was twofold: 

• choreograph a dance which utilizes both traditional and contemporary methods to be performed for our peers at the end of the conference.

• creating this web page to reflect on our week's studies of the PA Academic Standards for the Arts and Humanities.

Creating the Dance With the Use of Contemporary Technology

These are contemporary examples of a type of choreography that is typically drawn by hand.  The software used was LabanWriter.  After each group member created their own steps, we collaborated and developed a short dance which was presented to the entire Institute.  Furthermore, during development of our dance, we incorporated the use of video technology.  For example, the video we taped during practice was projected onto the screen and the performers.

Thank you for visiting our web page.  We had fun developing this page and sharing our experience with you.