Classes

Does this sound like you? Hi, I’m Jessica Balsley, a K-5 Art Teacher in Iowa, District Art facilitator, and founder of The Art of Education. A few years ago, I found myself in your exact same shoes. I was working towards my Master’s Degree and was frustrated by the lack of PD opportunities available specifically for Art Teachers.

This got me thinking… what Art Teachers really deserve is a place where they can take classes online, earn graduate credit, take electives towards a Master’s degree, renew their teaching license, and more… all with classes that are actually relevant to their classroom! Better yet, what if they could do this from the comfort of home?

Introducing AOE Classes. AOE Classes are a first-of-a-kind series of online classes designed just for Art Teachers. AOE Classes are fun, interesting, relevant, and flexible to your schedule. The best part is that you get to interact and learn with other Art Teachers from across the world while earning credit from the comfort of home. PD in your PJ’s!!!

If you have any questions as you read through this page, you are welcome to contact me directly at 515.508.1609 or theartofed@gmail.com. I’m very glad to help in any way I can!

See you in class!

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Available Classes

AOE offers a wide variety of online classes for Art Teachers – designed by Art Teachers. This means that you take an AOE Class you’re not getting the same old professional development your district puts on, or even classes you’d get through a general Master’s program…

Instead you’ll be getting top-notch Ridiculously Relevant™ course material that you can apply directly to your classroom. These classes are highly engaging, fun, educational, and best of all, you can complete them in your spare time at night or on the weekends.

We have 10 incredible classes to choose from offered during the year. Click the arrows below for a quick synopsis of each AOE Class:

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Recharging the Right Brain: 3 Credits

As our economy shifts and changes, right-brainers are being sought-after like never before. Learning from author Daniel Pink, you will identify the 6 senses of your right brain and learn strategies to develop these senses for professional and personal success. Help your students develop the creativity their future depends on. Learn More

Assessment in Art Education: 2 Credits

Assessment Strategies are becoming a necessity in today’s education world. Art Educators are striving to find creative and meaningful strategies to demonstrate student learning, growth and achievement. Explore current research in assessment in arts education and including strategies and systems that some of the top schools and programs in the nation are using to assess the arts. You’ll leave the course with a comprehensive assessment toolkit to begin implementing in your own district! Learn More

Clutter Free Teaching: 2 Credits

De-clutter your space, your mind, your teaching. As art teachers, we have a lot of ‘stuff’ in our physical space to manage. Get rid of what’s not working and embrace new best practices to help you work smarter, not harder. Learn to live more simply in your classroom, get more done, stay organized, and maintain your sanity. Learn More

The Element: 3 Credits

What would happen in our lives if we spent less time worrying about improving our weaknesses and instead focused on becoming experts in the areas we’re already good at? Learn from author and creativity expert Sir Kenneth Robinson’s book “The Element,” on how to discover and leverage your (and your students’) unique abilities. Learn More

Creativity in Crisis: 3 Credits

According to the 2010 Newsweek Article “Creativity in Crisis”our nation’s creativity is declining. The jobs of the future will demand people who are able to think creatively, problem solve, and adapt to situations. Learn from creativity experts to dig deep into true understanding of creativity and learn creativity-enhancement strategies you can implement in your own classroom right away. Learn More

Blogging for Art Educators: 2 Credits

Learn blogging basics and create your own blog with step-by-step guidance with an experienced blogger and educator. Brainstorm ways to fit blogging into your own classrooms, and discover ways to connect with other art educators online. Learn More

Exploring the Art Museum: 1 Credit

Art Museums are the center of the professional art world. Take an online journey to major art museums all around the country and world, and discover resources available for students and educators alike through new interactive museum websites. Discuss strategies to get your students engaged in the artwork critiquing process and much more. Learn More

Rethinking Kindergarten: 2 Credits

Explore some of the most renowned early learning schools in the world, the preschools of Reggio Emilia in Italy. These preschools value the arts as an equal partner to the other academic subjects. You will apply this knowledge by re-thinking the way you teach students kindergarten art room. Learn More

Managing the Art Room: 2 Credits

No matter how long you’ve been teaching, managing hundreds of students each week in your art room is an ongoing process. Learn about innovative and effective classroom management theories, and work with other Art Educators to design your own personalized classroom management plan which can be put to immediate use in your classroom. Learn More

Tech-Ready Teacher: 2 Credits

Having trouble keeping up with the students of today? Students seem to be exceedingly more tech savvy at an increasingly younger age. Get the foundation of knowledge you need around social media and other online collaboration platforms useful to the arts. Finally, a tech class tailored specifically for the needs of an art educator! Learn More

Download Summer Course Schedule

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Price & Earning Graduate Credit

The Art of Education is pleased to be partnering with Madonna University, a nationally recognized institution for quality professional development opportunities (download course-codes). Madonna University is accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education resulting in an incredibly high transferability rate to other Universities or acceptance in your district’s unique requirements.

Virtually all school districts and universities accept credit from The Art of Education, through the accreditation program of Madonna University. We have not found one yet that doesn’t. This is because Madonna is NCATE accredited. It is highly recommended though, that you check with your district first. Graduate credits are usually universally accepted for license certification and pay scale advances. We started at the highest level to make sure credits will work for you.

So, what does it cost? Our online classes for Art Teachers are VERY reasonably priced. Even though we’re providing you with far more interesting and relevant classes than what you’re used to, the price is the same or less than most other institutions out there.

If you’re taking the class just to learn for no-credit, AOE classes are only $100 per credit. If you’re taking the class to earn credit towards a masters degree, license renewal, etc. you just pay an additional $150 per credit to Madonna University to process your credit, and that’s it!

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5 Great Reasons to Take AOE Classes:

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Testimonials

Don’t take my word for it… AOE Classes get rave reviews from our past class participants. We’re extremely proud of the feedback we receive and for the overwhelming number of return customers. Here are just a few of the most recent comments we’ve gotten!

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FAQ’s

Still have a few questions? The answers you seek should be below… if they aren’t, you can always call Jessica at 515.508.1609 or email her: theartofed@gmail.com for more information!

How much time do the classes take?

Assignments are due weekly. Most of our participants find they can usually get the work done spending just a few minutes each night, or a bit longer on a weekend afternoon. AOE deplores ‘busy-work’ – most of our participants seem to spend more time than they even have to, because the projects are fun, interesting, and of course… Ridiculously Relevant!™

1 Credit Classes: From the 1st – 20th of each month. (15 Credit Hours)

2 Credit Classes: From the 1st to the end of the month. (30 Credit Hours)

3 Credit Classes: From the 1st to the end of the month, with one bonus week to complete the final assignment. (45 Credit Hours)

How do I Sign-Up for AOE Classes?

As an art teacher your life is complicated enough without hard-to-follow instructions and convoluted sign-up procedures. At AOE, we make class sign-up quick and easy. Just 3-simple-steps, that’s it! After you’ve completed the three steps, we’ll send you all the course information you need via email, and you’ll be good to go from there!

What process do I take If I want to earn Madonna University Credit?

If you want to earn graduate credit for your AOE Class through Madonna University, in addition to the 3 regular steps, you just have one more quick and easy step to finish! This step can be completed any time within two weeks of the start of your course. Sooner is obviously better than later.

All you have to do is to fill out a registration form with Madonna University and send them the check for their $150/credit tuition fee. The registration form can be found here. To fill out the form, you’ll need the official AOE/Madonna course codes, which can be found here.

And that’s it! The form includes information about where to send your payment. Once your payment has been received, and Madonna has reviewed your final assignment, they will send you your completed transcripts. Please allow a few weeks for processing.

Is there any required time I have to be online?

No, there are no required “log-on” hours with AOE classes. At the beginning of a course, you will receive the syllabus and all of the information you need to get started. From then on, you will work at your own pace in the course, as long as you meet the weekly deadlines. This flexible format allows you to plan ahead and work ahead if you have something busy going on in your week.

We know teachers are busy, with families and activities of their own to attend. Why sit in a workshop for three weekends in a row, when you can log on once the kids are in bed or complete your assignments for the week on Saturday afternoon?

How will I know my District or Institution will accept Madonna Graduate Credit?

Virtually all districts accept credit from The Art of Education through the accreditation program of Madonna University. We have not found one yet that doesn’t. This is because Madonna is NCATE accredited. It is highly recommended though that you check with your district first. Graduate credits are usually universally accepted for license certification and pay scale advances. We started at the highest level to make sure credits will work for you.

If you are looking into transferring in Madonna credits as electives to your graduate program, be sure to check with your University. All it takes is a quick 5 minutes call to your university’s registrar and they’ll be able to tell you. If you’d like a list of courses with Madonna course numbers, go here. This letter will explain the relationship between Madonna and Art of Education as solid partnership and provide documentation for your institution or district to verify this is an accredited program. We only work with the best! Don’t let a simple call or email deter you from having quality professional development.

What platform do you use to teach the course?

All of our courses are taught using a Discussion Board and a customized online Ning platform. The instructor posts the assignments and students reply to the discussion in a forum, as well as attach assignments directly into the forum. No emailing back and forth or lost documents. Everything is housed in one simple place. Handouts, Syllabus, Assignments, web links and the occasional video tutorial are available directly in the class Discussion Board. The forum allows for very personal class interaction. Art Educators from all around the country are connecting with our courses, and even making lasting friendships behind the scope of the course!

What if I don't take class for credit?

If you choose not to take the course for graduate credit, you will only pay the fee to AOE, and not the additional fee to Madonna University. If you are not taking the class for credit, you will not be required to submit the final assignment for the course, which is submitted to Madonna University to approve your credit. We’ve had many course participants take our classes to further their knowledge base and strengthen their PLN online without needing a credit. It might be the best couple hundred dollars you have ever spent!

What kind of instructor support will I receive?

The instructor of AOE classes will be a very active participant in the course, engaging in conversation, helping you through any issues that may arise and encouraging you to think deeply about the content. The instructor will reply with feedback to each of your assignment posts. You will never feel alone in AOE classes. WE are also super quick to respond when you need something, we are just a phone call, email or quick message away. No waiting for days wondering if someone is every going to get back to you. That is the beauty of our personalized Professional Development goals – We have you in mind!

Can I take an AOE Class even though I don't live in the U.S.?

Absolutely! You are welcome to enjoy quality professional development no matter where you are at, however, if you apply for graduate credit, the transferability rate to your own district or university may differ. It is up to you to do the research and find out if Madonna will work for you. If you are not interested in graduate credit, there are no barriers to taking the class for no credit!

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It’s time…

Don’t hesitate any longer. It’s time you enjoyed some Professional Development worthy of your time. It’s time you demanded more of your PD and took the opportunity to interact and learn from Art Teachers all over the world. All it takes is a few minutes to sign-up… the next round of classes start on the first of every month! Sign-up now to reserve your spot!

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