Arts and Spiritual Development

Students develop practical teaching strategies for using the arts in helping children and youth in small and large classroom settings to awaken and develop a spiritual awareness in themselves and an understanding of their relationship to others. Concrete theoretical discussions will provide the basis for understanding spiritual development and character and virtue development. This is an interactive and creative class in which students develop and engage in various artistic projects and explore their own spirituality while learning techniques for teaching diverse children and youth. Students will also learn and develop practical strategies for using the arts in teaching spiritual and virtue concepts to children and youth using integrative arts and experiential learning styles. Based on a working model of teaching through music, drama, visual arts, games, and dance, participants will learn by doing and by creating their own integrative and creative productions and lessons aimed at involving children and youth in the exploration of character and spiritual development.

Course Objectives

• Explain the difference between spirituality, faith and religion
• Articulate the role of religious/faith practices in spiritual development
• Demonstrate the ritual and a sense of place and normalcy that artistic expression brings to life transformational art making.
• Demonstrate models for using the arts to enhance acquisition of specific virtue concepts and character values. Discuss the importance of internal locus and other psychological theories in the development of self-efficacy and values

Student Learning Outcomes

• Through art-making, students will demonstrate their own sense of self and spirituality
• Student will be able to articulate the role of art-making in spiritual development
• Student can create and administer art-making activities helpful in working with children and youth in spiritual development
• Articulate clearly the differences in the terms faith, spirituality and religion and the child-centered process of spiritual development

For further information on this course, check out the Arts and Spirituality site.