‘Art integration aids holistic and multidisciplinary education’

Art integration in science instills observation skills and creativity and joyful learning with better understanding.

Today, there is a pressing need for an educational transformation. Art education has assumed greater significance in the new information age. The NEP 2020 has prominently focussed on the need for no hard separation of subjects and the need for art integration.

As a presenter on Art integrated pedagogy at Shikshak Parv, Ministry of Education, Government of India, I have done extensive research on this subject and have worked towards mapping it to my school as well. I feel proud and honoured that my school Delhi Public School, Nacharam was chosen by the Central Board of Secondary Education to conduct Chitram, a workshop for teachers and educators. I write this piece on the greater need to promote art education in all schools today.

At the primary level, art integration comprises of letters of the alphabet, languages, numbers, colours, shapes, indoor and outdoor play, puzzles for logical thinking and problem-solving. It helps generate 21st-century skills, creative inquiry, problem-solving, collaborative & cooperative work, social responsibility, communication skills, critical thinking skills and health and wellness
At the foundational stage, art integration can be used in numeracy in learning counting, sorting shapes and building images for fine motor skills.

Art integration in science instills observation skills and creativity and joyful learning with better understanding. Drawing and painting, collage making, printing, photography, flowers and roots, poster making, etc to spread awareness can be used.

In English and social studies, the use of illustrations in poetry, prose, concepts, use of graphical organisers, mind maps in grammar and concepts of Social Studies, use of temple construction, monuments, rangoli, geometrical patterns, yoga, sports field promote art integrated teaching.

To conclude, the impact of art integration into the regular curriculum is going to be colossal, especially in the next few years. The change for teachers and students is a path-making and a path-breaking change. As the saying goes- If we don’t change, we don’t grow. If we don’t grow, we aren’t living.’

Sunitha Rao
Principal
Delhi Public School, Nacharam, Secunderabad

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