This page gives a break-down of the standards that are set in art education at both a national level as well as the state level for Illinois.
Illinois Professional Teaching Standards
Standard 1: Teaching Diverse Students
The competent teacher understands the diverse characteristics and abilities of each student and how individuals develop and learn within the context of their social, cultural, linguistic, and academic experiences. The teacher uses these experiences to create instructional opportunities that maximize student learning.
Why is this important?
No classroom will have students that are all the same. Each classroom will be filled with diverse students with diverse backgrounds and experiences. It is important for teachers to understand diversity in order to create unity within the differences of the students, and to give a sense of belonging within the classroom. Additionally, it is important for teachers to be sensitive due to these diversities that the students may have.
The competent teacher understands the diverse characteristics and abilities of each student and how individuals develop and learn within the context of their social, cultural, linguistic, and academic experiences. The teacher uses these experiences to create instructional opportunities that maximize student learning.
Why is this important?
No classroom will have students that are all the same. Each classroom will be filled with diverse students with diverse backgrounds and experiences. It is important for teachers to understand diversity in order to create unity within the differences of the students, and to give a sense of belonging within the classroom. Additionally, it is important for teachers to be sensitive due to these diversities that the students may have.
Standard 2: Content Area and Pedagogical Knowledge
The competent teacher has in-depth understanding of content area knowledge that includes central concepts, methods of inquiry, structures of the disciplines, and content area literacy. The teacher creates meaningful learning experiences for each student based upon interactions among content area and pedagogical knowledge, and evidence-based practice.
Why is this important?
In order for a teacher to implement learning within a classroom setting they must understand pedagogical theories, so that they may create their own perspective and theory to use in their own curriculum and teaching. This how teachers create the meaningful learning experience, by implementing and practicing concepts such as individualized learning.
The competent teacher has in-depth understanding of content area knowledge that includes central concepts, methods of inquiry, structures of the disciplines, and content area literacy. The teacher creates meaningful learning experiences for each student based upon interactions among content area and pedagogical knowledge, and evidence-based practice.
Why is this important?
In order for a teacher to implement learning within a classroom setting they must understand pedagogical theories, so that they may create their own perspective and theory to use in their own curriculum and teaching. This how teachers create the meaningful learning experience, by implementing and practicing concepts such as individualized learning.
Standard 3: Planning for Differentiated Instruction
The competent teacher plans and designs instruction based on content area knowledge, diverse student characteristics, student performance data, curriculum goals, and the community context. The teacher plans for ongoing student growth and achievement.
Why is this important?
As stated above, students are very diverse. Students may not just be diverse culturally or different in terms of personality, but also with the ways in which they learn. Differentiated learning instruction allow the teacher to meet the learning needs for students with any characteristics and performance.
The competent teacher plans and designs instruction based on content area knowledge, diverse student characteristics, student performance data, curriculum goals, and the community context. The teacher plans for ongoing student growth and achievement.
Why is this important?
As stated above, students are very diverse. Students may not just be diverse culturally or different in terms of personality, but also with the ways in which they learn. Differentiated learning instruction allow the teacher to meet the learning needs for students with any characteristics and performance.
Standard 4: Learning Environment
The competent teacher structures a safe and healthy learning environment that facilitates cultural and linguistic responsiveness, emotional well-being, self-efficacy, positive social interaction, mutual respect, active engagement, academic risk-taking, self-motivation, and personal goal-setting.
Why is this important?
The quality of learning does not only come from lesson planning and curriculum but also the learning environment that they are taught in. The learning environment is what promotes students to do well within their studies.
The competent teacher structures a safe and healthy learning environment that facilitates cultural and linguistic responsiveness, emotional well-being, self-efficacy, positive social interaction, mutual respect, active engagement, academic risk-taking, self-motivation, and personal goal-setting.
Why is this important?
The quality of learning does not only come from lesson planning and curriculum but also the learning environment that they are taught in. The learning environment is what promotes students to do well within their studies.
Standard 5: Instructional Delivery
The competent teacher differentiates instruction by using a variety of strategies that support critical and creative thinking, problem-solving, and continuous growth and learning. This teacher understands that the classroom is a dynamic environment requiring ongoing modification of instruction to enhance learning for each student.
Why is this important?
Instruction and lesson planning should constantly be revisited and revised within the classroom. The teacher should respond to the qualities of the lesson that was given, self-critique, and implement changes. This is a very important part of instruction, especially in a diverse classroom where all students are different and needs personal accommodation.
The competent teacher differentiates instruction by using a variety of strategies that support critical and creative thinking, problem-solving, and continuous growth and learning. This teacher understands that the classroom is a dynamic environment requiring ongoing modification of instruction to enhance learning for each student.
Why is this important?
Instruction and lesson planning should constantly be revisited and revised within the classroom. The teacher should respond to the qualities of the lesson that was given, self-critique, and implement changes. This is a very important part of instruction, especially in a diverse classroom where all students are different and needs personal accommodation.
Standard 6: Reading, Writing and Oral Communication
The competent teacher has foundational knowledge of reading, writing, and oral communication within the content area and recognizes and addresses student reading, writing, and oral communication needs to facilitate the acquisition of content knowledge.
Why is this important?
When students are given an expectation of reading, writing, and communicating then it is important for teachers to model these expectations for their students.
The competent teacher has foundational knowledge of reading, writing, and oral communication within the content area and recognizes and addresses student reading, writing, and oral communication needs to facilitate the acquisition of content knowledge.
Why is this important?
When students are given an expectation of reading, writing, and communicating then it is important for teachers to model these expectations for their students.
Standard 7: Assessment
The competent teacher understands and uses appropriate formative and summative assessments for determining student needs, monitoring student progress, measuring student growth, and evaluating student outcomes. The teacher makes decisions driven by data about curricular and instructional effectiveness and adjusts practices to meet the needs of each student.
Why is this important?
Progress is the main goal of an educator. The teacher must ensure that there has been growth in student learning, skills, concepts, and knowledge. In order to track this progress there must be some form of measurement of these qualities for the student.
The competent teacher understands and uses appropriate formative and summative assessments for determining student needs, monitoring student progress, measuring student growth, and evaluating student outcomes. The teacher makes decisions driven by data about curricular and instructional effectiveness and adjusts practices to meet the needs of each student.
Why is this important?
Progress is the main goal of an educator. The teacher must ensure that there has been growth in student learning, skills, concepts, and knowledge. In order to track this progress there must be some form of measurement of these qualities for the student.
Standard 8: Collaborative Relationships
The competent teacher builds and maintains collaborative relationships to foster cognitive, linguistic, physical, and social and emotional development. This teacher works as a team member with professional colleagues, students, parents or guardians, and community members.
Why is this important?
In centralized learning a teacher is the facilitator. The teacher is also a student, and the student is also a teacher. Additionally, it is important for educators to work with one another to create a community within the school or educational environment, to promote both the student and the teachers' hard work.
The competent teacher builds and maintains collaborative relationships to foster cognitive, linguistic, physical, and social and emotional development. This teacher works as a team member with professional colleagues, students, parents or guardians, and community members.
Why is this important?
In centralized learning a teacher is the facilitator. The teacher is also a student, and the student is also a teacher. Additionally, it is important for educators to work with one another to create a community within the school or educational environment, to promote both the student and the teachers' hard work.
Standard 9: Professionalism, Leadership, and Advocacy
The competent teacher is an ethical and reflective practitioner who exhibits professionalism; provides leadership in the learning community; and advocates for students, parents or guardians, and the profession.
Why is this important?
It is extremely important for anyone working with kids to be moral and ethical because students will often reciprocate their educators, because they are a model for them. Additionally, professionalism, leadership, and advocacy is critical part of adding to the learning community and creating collaborative relationships.
The competent teacher is an ethical and reflective practitioner who exhibits professionalism; provides leadership in the learning community; and advocates for students, parents or guardians, and the profession.
Why is this important?
It is extremely important for anyone working with kids to be moral and ethical because students will often reciprocate their educators, because they are a model for them. Additionally, professionalism, leadership, and advocacy is critical part of adding to the learning community and creating collaborative relationships.
National Arts Standards
In addition to the national core standards website, here is another way that you can view the national arts standards that may be easier for some to look at. The document can be enlarged by clicking on the full screen icon located on the bottom right.
Illinois State Art Goals
The state of Illinois has broken down its educational standards for art into three goals. The goals are #25, #26, and #27. Each goal is specified by education level and split into sub-parts. Here is information that pertains to each of the Illinois state art goals. Each of these documents also have the ability to be enlarged, and also downloaded for personal use.
Goal #25:
Goal #26
Goal #27