Sharing CIS Expertise. CIS Open Minds Programme Goes Local

CIS Open Minds Coordinator, Christa Craats, is taking art appreciation to a new level at schools across Singapore. How? By mentoring representatives from not-for-profit organisation Art Outreach, on how to effectively design art programmes in local schools.

Ms. Craats’ partnership with Art Outreach began six years ago when officials from the organisation joined her on CIS Open Minds trips (innovative learning experiences where the classroom is moved into a variety of real-world settings) to the MRT North-East and Circle Lines. Officials were inspired by the way she used ‘visible thinking’ practices to help students appreciate the amazing art they saw during these trips.

Visible thinking practices teach students how to solve problems. It involves asking them questions that prompt them to think, inquire and find answers for themselves. Ms. Craats’ mentoring approach is based on theses practices. For many local schools implementing them will be a revolutionary shift in the way they teach art. This is mainly because their curriculum tends to cover a lot of content, with little room or time for inquiry.

Ms. Craats collaboration with Art Outreach has also been instrumental in building new partnerships within the community. In the near future, students from CIS’ Tanjong Katong campus and Tanjong Katong Primary School, will be coming together for joint art inquiry sessions. Not only will this help students from both schools learn about different ways to appreciate art, it will also give them the opportunity to make new friends from the local community.