Running Head: LEARNING AND THE ARTS 1

Learning and the Arts

Cathy Johnson
EDU 417
Instructor: Ciara Smack
September 22, 2014










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Week 3 Journal
The arts encompass topics such as literature, dance, drama, music, dance or visual arts.
When information is embedded into the curriculum pertaining to the arts; there is no doubt in my
mind that it enhances learning. Not only does art enhance learning but it also enhances growth of
cognitive and emotional pathways in the brain. The arts give the students motivational tools to
unlock a deeper understanding of their education. It supports children with problem solving
skills, enhances creative skills, and gives the student a sense of making decisions and choices.
Learning the arts provides a higher quality of experiences in real life situations.
I remember in elementary school years ago; how important and fun art, drama, dance,
and music class was to me. I can remember because the brain looks for meaning and this ways
very meaningful to me. Also the emotional state that was elicited during these classroom lessons
aided in embedding those activities into my memories. All of these classes were of relevance to
me, so the brain naturally makes associations from existing connections. Anything that is
meaningful to the learner has relevance, emotions, and context tied into it. Context triggers
pattern making, which relates to the activation of larger neural connections.
There are specific brain areas and cognitive benefits of the arts. Music elicits emotional
responses that stimulate the limbic system. The limbic system is located in between the cerebral
cortex and the brain stem. The limbic system and the subcortical region of the brain are involved
in engaging musical and emotional responses as well as mediating long term memory. The
cerebellum plays an important role in motor control and is involved in numerous aspects of
musical experiences including emotional reactions to music. Movement such as foot tapping,
dancing, and playing an instrument are all involved in the cerebellum. The auditory cortex is one
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of the first stages of listening to sounds and the visual cortex is involved in reading music. The
auditory system allows us to distinguish different sounds and is the reason we are able to
communicate. In the visual cortex, music can be imagined and stored. When a learner imagines a
song; brain cells are activated and are identical to those used when a person hears music from
the outside world. The sensory cortex is for playing an instrument or dancing, and the motor
cortex is for movement, foot tapping, dancing, and playing an instrument.
There are many strategies that I could incorporate in the classroom to facilitate the arts.
Most students like music so you can make a video. Creating or redoing a song with lyrics that
represent the new learning is a great strategy. Learning content by embedding it in music or
rhyme is generally more effective is students are involved in creating the product.
I can remember as a child watching the school house rock on Saturday mornings. I
remember learning about nouns, verbs, prepositions and conjunctions through these animated
songs. One of the musical songs were I m just a bill. How boring learning about how bills
pass in the White House, but learning it through song and animation made it fun and easier to
understand and remember.
A teacher can try and assist students to engage in all five senses or try to get learners to
integrate new learning in their personal lives. All learners have a basic need to express their
thoughts and feelings and many students show this through their artistic talents. Having this
information can help learners better understand their learning strengths as well as potential
obstacles to future development.


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