Transforming K-12 Education Through Arts Integration and STEAM

San Benito County, CA

This rural county in California provided The Accelerator platform to a group of 9 teachers as a structured Professional Learning Community. The purpose was to sample, test and assess the benefit of arts integration for K-8 students. Their PLC leader, Peggy Burton, shared the following data:

1. Understanding of Arts Integration:
   • 100% of respondents (9 people) rated their understanding of arts integration as enhanced by the session, with 66.7% giving it the highest rating (5) and 33.3% rating it a 4.
2. Expectations Met:
   • 77.8% of participants (7 out of 9) rated the session as fully meeting their expectations with a score of 5, while 22.2% gave it a 4.
3. Relevance to Student Learning:
   • 77.8% of respondents (7 out of 9) rated the content as highly relevant to supporting student learning (score of 5), with 11.1% rating it 4 and 11.1% giving it a 3.
4. Top 2 Takeaways to Apply:
   • Integration across subjects: Arts can be integrated into various subjects, and this was a key focus.
   • Specific strategies: Using arts in innovative ways, such as collage, Mandala art, and math-art integration, was highlighted by multiple respondents. Lessons can be adapted for different grade levels.
5. Feedback on Workshops:
   • The workshops were considered inspiring, informative, and helpful in improving teaching practices.