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There are 6 modules in this course
The most resonant learning experiences happen when students can connect classroom content to the world around them. This course provides a methodology that uses accessible and relevant themes—rather than just dates and names—to organize learning about art. By adopting a thematic approach used by leaders in the field of museum education, you will learn to bridge the gap between modern and contemporary art and your students' lived experiences, making the classroom a space for creative big-picture thinking.
You will gain the fluency to group works around powerful ideas such as Place, Identity, Society, and Transforming Everyday Objects. Whether you are looking for a pedagogical edge or seeking to revitalize your curriculum, this course equips you with the resources to create an inclusive, interdisciplinary environment. You will learn to facilitate connections that help students see art not as a distant subject, but as a vital tool for understanding their own lives and communities.
Welcome to Art & Ideas! In this course, you'll learn to see art through a new lens—one that focuses on themes instead of chronology or historical movements. Themes allow us to make connections between multiple artworks, classroom content, and our own lives. Teaching with a thematic approach not only makes art more accessible but also centers the student experience and supports interdisciplinary teaching.
What's included
2 videos6 readings1 assignment
Show info about module content
2 videos•Total 4 minutes
Introduction to Art & Ideas•1 minute
How to Teach with Themes•2 minutes
6 readings•Total 110 minutes
Welcome to the Course!•10 minutes
Art, Ideas, and Social Emotional Learning•10 minutes
Tips for Teaching Students with Disabilities•10 minutes
Optional Prompts for Discussion & Reflection•10 minutes
Are you a New York State educator?•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
Introduction to Teaching with Themes •30 minutes
Places & Spaces
Module 2•3 hours to complete
Module details
In this module, we'll explore our first theme: Places & Spaces. When you ground your lessons in sights and structures that are familiar, you provide students with a direct connection to the artwork. You'll discover some of the ways artists have represented place and found inspiration in their surroundings.
Optional Prompts for Discussion & Reflection•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
Places & Spaces•30 minutes
Art & Identity
Module 3•3 hours to complete
Module details
In this module, we'll move from place to people as we discover some of the ways artists express, explore, and question identity. You'll learn about portraiture and how artists have created representations of themselves and others. You'll also explore strategies for using art to explore the topic of identity with students.
What's included
10 videos8 readings1 assignment
Show info about module content
10 videos•Total 25 minutes
Art & Identity•5 minutes
Teaching with Themes: Art & Identity•3 minutes
Henri Matisse. The Red Studio. 1911•2 minutes
Frida Kahlo. Self-Portrait with Cropped Hair. 1940•2 minutes
Gilbert Baker. Rainbow Flag. 1978•4 minutes
Catherine Opie. Being and Having. 1991•2 minutes
Optional Prompts for Discussion & Reflection•10 minutes
Mid-course survey•5 minutes
Reminder: CTLE for New York State educators•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
Art & Identity•30 minutes
Transforming Everyday Objects
Module 4•3 hours to complete
Module details
In this module, we'll consider how artists use everyday objects to challenge assumptions about what constitutes art and how it should be made. At the core of this theme is the idea of artistic choice and the works you encounter will offer insight into the creative processes artists and designers use to invent and transform everyday objects. You'll also gain skills for making interdisciplinary connections and fostering students’ critical thinking abilities.
What's included
10 videos6 readings1 assignment
Show info about module content
10 videos•Total 22 minutes
Transforming Everyday Objects•4 minutes
Teaching With Themes: Transforming Everyday Objects•2 minutes
Optional Prompts for Discussion & Reflection•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
Transforming Everyday Objects•30 minutes
Art & Society
Module 5•3 hours to complete
Module details
In this module, you'll explore artworks created in response to the social, cultural, and political issues of their time. You'll gain a deeper understanding of history and contemporary society and explore strategies for encouraging students to think critically about world events and how they are depicted.
What's included
10 videos6 readings1 assignment
Show info about module content
10 videos•Total 28 minutes
Art & Society•5 minutes
Teaching with Themes: Art & Society•2 minutes
Dorothea Lange. Migrant Mother. 1936•2 minutes
Jacob Lawrence. Migration Series. 1940–41•2 minutes
Carolina Caycedo. Spirals for Shared Dreams. 2022•4 minutes
Ernest Cole. Untitled. C. 1960•2 minutes
Martha Rosler. House Beautiful (Bringing the War Home). 1967-72•2 minutes
Hanes, Inc. White T-Shirt. 1910s •3 minutes
Faith Ringgold. American People Series #20: Die. 1967•4 minutes
Shahzia Sikander. Candied. 2003•2 minutes
6 readings•Total 110 minutes
Introduction to Art & Society•10 minutes
How do artists respond to social conditions?•10 minutes
How do artists challenge social conditions?•10 minutes
Optional Prompts for Discussion & Reflection•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
Art & Society•30 minutes
Teaching with Themes
Module 6•2 hours to complete
Module details
In this module, you'll take everything you've learned and create your own thematic lesson plan using works of art. We'll also share some resources you can save and use in the future.
What's included
8 readings1 assignment
Show info about module content
8 readings•Total 80 minutes
Optional Prompts for Discussion & Reflection•10 minutes
End-of-course survey•10 minutes
CTLE for New York State educators•10 minutes
MoMA Resources•10 minutes
Tips for Teaching Students with Disabilties•10 minutes
Activity Sheets from Art & Ideas Newsletters•10 minutes
Virtual Event Recordings•10 minutes
Tips for Teaching Remotely•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
Final Project: Design a Theme-Based Lesson•30 minutes
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The Museum of Modern Art is a place that fuels creativity, ignites minds, and provides inspiration. Join us in exploring the art, ideas, and issues of our time through the Modern and Contemporary Art and Design Specialization or through individual courses: Modern Art & Ideas, Seeing Through Photographs, What Is Contemporary Art?, Fashion as Design, and In the Studio: Postwar Abstract Painting. Learn about teaching with art in our three courses designed for K-12 educators: Art & Inquiry, Art & Activity, and Art & Ideas.
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Learner reviews
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NS
4·
Reviewed on May 29, 2017
This is a good course that can gives us ideas how to teach art to our students with some sections that very interesting.
D
DM
5·
Reviewed on May 16, 2020
Absolutely wonderful course, got to learn new things that i can implement in my virtual classroom...thanks to Coursera
P
PM
5·
Reviewed on Jun 3, 2020
This is a really fun and informative course! Highly recommended for educators or art industry professionals looking for ways to better engage audience.
This course has been designed for primary and secondary teachers of all subjects, but we encourage anyone interested in teaching with art to enroll. No prior knowledge of art history is required.
What will I be able to do upon completing the course?
You will develop an understanding of the benefits of using themes in inquiry-based teaching while also learning techniques for integrating art across your curriculum.
Will I be able to receive an accreditation for this course?
Coursera currently provides certificates of completion.
MoMA offers New York State teachers Continuing Teacher and Leader Education (CTLE) credit for individual courses and for the three-course specialization developed for K-12 educators. More information about CTLE in New York State is included in the courses. MoMA does not offer any other accreditations at this time.Â
When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.
Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.