About this course: Explore how to integrate works of art into your classroom with inquiry-based teaching methods originally developed for in-gallery museum education.
Who is this class for: This course is designed for both classroom teachers and educators in informal settings. Its focus is on primary and secondary education, but in some cases the content can be adapted to the requirements of higher education. No prior knowledge of art history or museum-based teaching practice is required. Please note: If you want to complete the course and earn a Course Certificate by submitting assignments for a grade, you can pay the course fee. You can apply for financial aid if you can’t afford the course fee. For any questions about the certificates, please consult the Coursera Learner Help Center.
Created by: The Museum of Modern Art
Taught by: Lisa Mazzola, Assistant Director, School and Teacher Programs
Department of Education
| Commitment | 4 weeks, x 2 hours of study per week, plus 2 hours for final project = 10 hours |
| Language | English |
| How To Pass | Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. |
| User Ratings |
Syllabus
WEEK 1
Module 1: Introduction to Inquiry | Why Engage in Inquiry Around Art?
This course will introduce ways to integrate works of art into your classroom by using inquiry-based teaching methods commonly used in museum settings. It is designed to give you the tools to create meaningful object-based learning activities that can be integrated into a wide variety of curricula. All the strategies covered emphasize literacy and critical thinking skills that connect across disciplines.
2 videos, 1 reading
- Video: 1.2 Why Engage in Inquiry Around Art?
- Reading: 1.3 Required Readings & Additional Resources
Graded: 1.4 Quiz
WEEK 2
Module 2: Close-Looking and Open-Ended Inquiry
In this module we will discuss and review the different ways that you can facilitate close-looking with your students and engaging in open-ended, inquiry-based conversation around works of art. Don’t wait to start practicing! Grab a friend or a family member and start leading inquiry-based conversation around a work of art, or anything. As you will see in the Google Hangout video, you can use a digital image or any object that you have around that would lend itself to leading an inquiry-based discussion. These practice sessions are not required but the more you practice, the easier and better your classroom performance will be.
3 videos, 1 reading
- Video: 2.2 Close-Looking and Open-Ended Inquiry
- Video: 2.3 Inquiry in Action: Google Hangout about Art & Identity
- Reading: 2.4 Required Readings & Additional Resources
Graded: 2.5 Quiz
WEEK 3
Module 3: Activities as Inquiry
This section explores interactive methods that promote an open-ended, two-way exchange of ideas and engage a specific set of skills including close-looking, peer-to-peer learning, creative thinking, and problem-solving.
2 videos, 1 reading
- Video: 3.2 Activities as Inquiry
- Reading: 3.3 Required Readings & Additional Resources
WEEK 4
Module 4: Putting it all Together: Making Connections Across Curriculum
In this module we will model ways that you can incorporate inquiry around a work of art into your classroom and make connections to curricula. We will also explore the types of resources that you can access to supplement your lesson development and planning.
4 videos, 1 reading
- Video: 4.2 Putting it all Together: Making Connections Across Curriculum
- Video: 4.3 #ArtHang with MoMA Learning: Open House with Lisa Mazzola
- Video: 4.4 #ArtHang with MoMA Learning: Open House with Lisa Mazzola and Author Laurel Schmidt
- Reading: Funding for Education at MoMA
Graded: Final Project
FAQs
How It Works
Coursework
Each course is like an interactive textbook, featuring pre-recorded videos, quizzes and projects.
Help from Your Peers
Connect with thousands of other learners and debate ideas, discuss course material, and get help mastering concepts.
Certificates
Earn official recognition for your work, and share your success with friends, colleagues, and employers.
Creators
The Museum of Modern Art
The Museum of Modern Art is a place that fuels creativity, ignites minds, and provides inspiration. With extraordinary exhibitions and the world's finest collection of modern and contemporary art, MoMA is dedicated to the conversation between the past and the present, the established and the experimental. Our mission is helping you understand, enjoy, and use the art of our time.
Ratings and Reviews
Interesting approach to classroom activities, the information given is very useful to expand possibilities in learning and teaching experiences in the classroom.
An interesting, well organized lesson.
The grading system could meet some enhancements. I'd love to receive course authors feedback on my final assignment, it would be incredibly useful! I also had to wait really long time till my work was graded by other students. Online students could lack an opportunity or willingness to grade their virtual classmates and that can stop someone from getting a certificate. There also can be a situation when there is not enough students enrolled in a session and that could be an obstacle too. Furthermore, course forums seem a bit deserted.But aside from the grading system the course is brilliant! Thank you MoMa!
Coursera provides universal access to the world’s best education,
partnering with top universities and organizations to offer courses online.
© 2018 Coursera Inc. All rights reserved.
CL
The course is very interesting and simple enough to make it compatible with daily life. The readings where useful and generally fun. I would only argue that the third week of the course is incredibly short in comparisson to the rest of it, which in my opinion makes the last class too long for a regular MOOC. Aside from that, I think the design of the course was balanced and enjoyable. Would recommend.