Art History
Robert Coad
The focus of this workshop will emphasize implementing and developing an AP* Art History program and addressing the needs and concerns of both experienced and new teachers to AP*. Sessions will cover critical issues relating to teaching AP* Art History in high schools, including an overview of the course outline and its demanding curriculum, pacing of the course and classroom time management, developing visual resources, selecting appropriate texts, incorporating Internet and technology resources and outlining strategies and methodologies necessary for building a successful program. A variety of instructional approaches will be presented including how to develop writing and critical thinking skills. There will be special emphasis on strategies for teaching comparative analysis of art works, which will be modeled by the presenter and practiced by workshop participants. There will also be sessions on preparing students for the AP* examination, test taking and review strategies with extensive review of essay grading and assessment procedures used at the AP* Reading. ETS and College Board test materials will be used. New developments on the exam, including the increasing emphasis on contextualizing art will also be addressed. Special emphasis will be placed on how to realistically include non-western art and relate these visual objects and structures to their cultural contexts. Specific strategies and suggestions on how to tackle the ever-expanding course curriculum and how to make connections between very diverse cultural artifacts will be discussed with slide presentations and field trips to local museums.
In preparation for the workshop, participants are encouraged to review the AP* Art History course outline presented on-line. Specific problems and issues of participants will be addressed and it is hoped that workshop attendees will share their best practices and resources.
