Program Courses
MECA&D MAT Sequence of Courses

In order to reach the MAT Program Outcomes, and in alignment with the Maine Standards for Initial Teacher Certification, our faculty has developed the following sequence of courses.

Term/Courses

Summer

The Artist as Educator Experience (3 credits)
Fundamentals of Creativity and Student Development (6 credits)

Fall

Exceptionality in the Art Classroom (3 credits)
PK-8 Curriculum Design, Development, and Assessment (3 credits)
High School Curriculum Design, Development, and Assessment (3 credits)
Diversity & Equity in Alternative Settings (3 credits)
The Artist as Educator Experience: Art Studio Component

Spring

PK-8 Student Teaching (6 credits)
High School Student Teaching (6 credits)
Professional Practices Seminar (3 credits)

Course Descriptions

MAT 800 The Artist as Educator Experience (3 credits)
Throughout the summer and fall, candidates explore the tools they will need to keep their artistry alive. They also learn how to digitize evidence of artistic and teaching performance. During the summer, candidates explore key personal dispositions of the artist-educator and learn how these qualities shape their lives as artists and future educators. Candidates reflect on their identity and articulate how their personal qualities contribute to their development as creative educators. During the fall, candidates continue to explore the artist/educator theme. By examining personal learning goals, they select an art form to study that either supplements or expands their existing repertoire. Candidates prepare a final paper that examines the strengths and challenges of maintaining high quality teaching while continuing to work as practicing artists.

MAT 804 Fundamentals of Creativity and Student Development (6 credits)
Candidates study and critically examine theories and practices in teaching and child creativity and artistic and human development. Students will learn about the ethical and legal responsibilities of an educator teaching art to children and adolescents within various learning contexts and environments. They explore a range of approaches to teaching art in public and private school classrooms, and pursue a child study through their fieldwork placement. Course content focuses on child development through the lens of the history of art education within the larger educational framework. Current neuroscience and contemporary methods of art education such as Reggio Emilia, Discipline Based Art Education (DBAE), Teaching for Artistic Behaviors (TAB) will support an understanding of developmentally-appropriate curricular planning. (30 hours)

MAT 806 Exceptionality in the Art Classroom (3 credits)
Through learning about the concept of exceptionality and the characteristics of students with Diverse abilities, candidates will develop strategies for how to effectively instruct, modify, adapt, and differentiate instruction. They will focus on teaching students with diverse needs in inclusive art classrooms. Utilizing Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles, candidates will explore characteristics of cognitive, physical, learning and behavior differences, and practice adapted Art instructional strategies. Candidates will also gain a basic understanding of the identification of exceptional children, processes and procedures that determine student eligibility for special services, and supporting all students in trauma-informed and inclusive learning environments. They will leave with an understanding of the legal and ethical responsibilities of teachers, informed by current legislation and trends as it relates to individuals with exceptionalities. (10 hours)

MAT 809 Diversity & Equity in Alternative Settings (3 credits)
Community placements will serve as a resource for informing classroom practice while candidates explore, develop, and conduct fieldwork in multicultural community sites in the Greater Portland area. Under the guidance of the instructor, candidates will collaborate with local schools and teachers to facilitate classroom visits, develop and lead inclusive, and culturally responsive gallery tours, and workshops. Candidates will engage young children by extending and integrating their academic knowledge through interdisciplinary, and integrated lesson plans for multilingual learners. Candidates will learn how to work collaboratively within their communities to create artwork that has a social impact, and advocates for social reform. A minimum of 40 hours of assigned fieldwork is required for successful completion of this course. (40)

MAT 810 PK-8 Curriculum Design, Development, and Assessment (3 credits)
Candidates learn to apply standards-based and research-informed methods of instructional design through the use of themes, media, and concepts. Students develop a f unit plan that meets the cognitive, social and personal interests of children and youth in grades PK-8. Through guided practice, candidates will design and facilitate hands-on art making activities to gain confidence in preparation for the student teaching experience. Lesson planning, unit planning, assessment, integration of technology, application of effective teaching methods, and other relevant topics will be discussed. Candidates are encouraged to develop innovative approaches to the content so that student learning needs and interests are met. A minimum of 10 hours of assigned fieldwork is required for successful completion of this course. (15)

MAT 812 High School Curriculum Design, Development, and Assessment (3 credits)
Candidates learn to apply standards-based and research-informed methods of instructional design through the use of themes, media, and concepts. Students develop a dynamic unit plan that meets the cognitive, social and personal interests of high school students. Through guided practice, candidates will design and facilitate hands-on art making activities to gain confidence in preparation for the student teaching experience. Lesson planning, unit planning, assessment, integration of technology, application of effective teaching methods, and other relevant topics will be discussed. Candidates are encouraged to develop innovative approaches to the content so that student learning needs and interests are met. A minimum of 10 hours of assigned fieldwork is required for successful completion of this course. (15)

MAT 832 PK-8 Student Teaching (6 credits)
After registration by permission of the Director of Art Ed Outreach, candidates will be placed in PK-8 art classrooms where they will work under the supervision of a faculty member and a mentor teacher. Throughout their student teaching placements, candidates will assess their own teaching practice and develop a student teaching portfolio to demonstrate attainment of Maine’s Initial Teacher Certification Objectives. Frequent feedback from mentor teachers and faculty supervisors, both formal and informal, will aid in the professional growth necessary to begin a successful career as an artist-educator.

MAT 833 High School Student Teaching (6 credits)
After registration by permission of the Director of Art Ed Outreach, candidates will be placed in high school art classrooms where they will work under the supervision of a faculty member and a mentor teacher. Throughout their student teaching placements, candidates will assess their own teaching practice and develop a student teaching portfolio to demonstrate attainment of Maine’s Initial Teacher Certification Objectives. Frequent feedback from mentor teachers and faculty supervisors, both formal and informal, will aid in the professional growth necessary to begin a successful career as an artist-educator.

MAT 836 Professional Practices Seminar (3 credits)
Taken concurrently with Student Teaching, candidates use this seminar to connect theory to practice and to demonstrate attainment of the MAT Outcomes. The first half of the term will focus on questions that candidates raise about their own practice. Using collaborative learning circles, qualitative interview and action research assignments, students reflect on their learning to offer useful steps for positive action in their own teaching. Current education theory and critical issues in education will be discussed as candidates prepare their online Professional Artist-Educator Portfolios and gather the necessary requisites for graduation.

Program Courses MECA&D MAT Sequence of Courses

Next Page ︎︎︎

Program Courses
MECA&D MAT Sequence of Courses