Multicultural classrooms: Art-based teaching strategies TENERIFE (Spain)

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Collaborative art-based teaching methods (collage, clay, drawing, dancing and body movement etc.) are suitable for teaching tolerance, diversity and empathy in multicultural classrooms, irrespective of existing language barriers. This course can be targeted either to school teachers or to educators teaching adults and seniors, or both.

Art-based teaching methods can be a source of inspiration for all teachers who want to teach differently concepts like tolerance, diversity and inclusion in multicultural classrooms of adults, seniors or children. This course helps teachers boost their self-confidence with using creative techniques in order to break possible language barriers and adapt to the different learning styles.

Collaborative art-based exercises are very suitable for teaching a variety of interdisciplinary topics in diverse and inter-generational classrooms. Art helps learners express their emotions, especially when they learn in a second language they don’t master. By using learning-by-doing methods focused on non-verbal interactions rather than talking, reading or writing, teachers can encourage participation of disadvantaged learners and increase group cohesion.

Objectives
Improve intercultural skills and cultural awareness.
Reflect on the realities of adults and seniors from other cultural backgrounds.
Increase self-awareness about the needs of the different types of disadvantaged learners.
Get insights on how to promote tolerance and empathy towards learners from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Learn how to use art-based techniques to teach learners that are learning in a second language they don’t master
Understand how to apply art-based and learning-by-doing methodologies with disadvantaged learners.
Get familiar with the advantages of cooperative art-based techniques increase group cohesion and prevent exclusion of disadvantages learners.
Learn how to deliver art-based exercises that help learners reflect on discrimination, racism and class segregation.
Exchange best practices with other teachers on how to handle difficult situations with learners from vulnerable backgrounds.
Get inspired on how to encourage a stimulating and open learning environment and foster collective learning.

Training activities

Day 1 – The realities of intercultural classrooms
Welcome to the course
Ice breaking: Matching the pieces of the puzzle
Sharing stories about the realities of intercultural classrooms
Exercise: Active listening and building empathy
Case study: Refugees vs asylum seekers vs immigrants
Group dynamics: Building trust in the group
Understanding the needs and challenges in multicultural classrooms
Exchanging good practices on how to handle difficult situations with learners from vulnerable backgrounds.

Day 2 – Dance and body movement
Team-building exercises
Think-pair-share: What are art-based techniques?
Role play: the importance of non-verbal communication
Challenge in pairs: The importance of eye contact
How to focus on learning by doing than speaking/writing?
Active game: Building empathy towards learners studying in a second language
Dancing dynamics: Building group cohesion and reinforcing trust
Exercise in groups: Sculptures/Living pictures to reflect difficult family situations
Exchanging ideas for other dancing and body movement exercises
Reflection exercises: How can I apply dancing and body movement activities in my class?

Day 3 – Collaborative visual arts
Warm-up and creative exercises
Think-pair-share: The benefits of visual arts in multicultural classrooms
Individual exercise: Draw an emotions wheel
Group work: Using collaborative activities with clay to express emotions
Group work: Using art therapy and collaborative drawing to teach tolerance and acceptance of others
Group discussions and reflection: Marginalization and isolation
Finger painting exercise to create a stimulating and engaging learning environment
Exchanging other examples of visual arts techniques for adults and seniors
Group reflection: How can I adapt collaborative visual arts techniques to my teaching?

Day 4 – Collage techniques
Warm up and group division exercises
Introduction to the collage techniques to teach interculturality
Overview of different materials and styles to make collages
Collaborative collage exercise: What is diversity?
Using collage techniques to understand emotions and the realities of the learners
Collage exercise: My personal story
Pro and cons grid of individual vs collaborative collage exercises
Group reflection: How can I use collage techniques in my class?

Day 5 – Networking and closing
Energizer and quiz with Kahoot
Group dynamics: Networking skills
Open discussion on possible future collaborations and planning follow up activities
Summary of key learning points
Final course evaluation and feedback
Validation of learning outcomes and handling certificates
Cultural activity or guided visit (optional)