Session 5: Connected: An Autobiography...

1.     Response to, “Connected: An Autobiography…”

a.     In what way might the film relate to your content area? Give a concrete example.

The film, “Connected,” absolutely relates to my content area of art integration in the core curriculum by the mere definition of integration alone. The synopsis of this film states, “after centuries of declaring our independence, it may be time for us to declare our interdependence instead.” Integration is defined as the act of combining or adding parts to make a unified whole, which is what this film is about; connection to the world at large. Shlain asks the question, “Why did we start teaching in isolation?” at the very beginning of the film and one of the goals of my capstone project is to answer my content question of why the arts should be integrated through out subject matters taught in the curriculum.  Shlain’s mothers belief that emotional connection drives everything we do, is very true. If students are taught subjects in isolation, they are not being given the opportunity to experience and connect with what they are being taught nor being taught how to put perspective on what they are being told, ultimately teaching ignorance.

b.     What questions does it raise?

The film itself raised a question, “Why do we have such a hard time seeing the bigger picture, when as a world we have so much knowledge?” which raised further questions for myself: Are we unable to see the bigger picture due to our lack of empathy and perspective taking skills? Can lack of perspective taking skills be correlated to the way we are taught in school? If subjects are taught in isolation then how can we or would we be able to see the bigger picture if we were never taught to think in a way for connections to be made?

c.      How is your content area interconnected with other content areas?

Since the content I am focusing on is art integration in the core curriculum, it is interconnected with other content areas such as literature, literacy, history, math, science and physical education by means of pedagogy. For example, when teaching children the reading comprehension strategy of visualization using music without lyrics and drawing what they see in their head while listening.

d.     How does an interdisciplinary lens deepen understanding for a “well-educated” person?

An interdisciplinary lens deepens understanding for a “well-educated” person because they are able to consider multiple perspectives, know how to think and know how to question material based on their range of background knowledge. They are able to pull from many resources and see the bigger picture.   

I responded to: Natalie Hull and Marshall