Digital Learning Archives

This working webinar was recorded in January 2023 with presenters Peggy Burt and Louisa Higgins. It's goal was to help teachers more familiar and comfortable with using AI to do arts lessons plans, integrated lesson plans and assessment rubrics. Please feel free to fast forward during the one section where participants were working in breakout rooms.

Can Art Change the World?

Everyone knows that art is wonderful in its own right. But do you realize that it is also a vehicle for many other positive things, especially social justice.

We would like to share with you a one hour presentation that was developed by artists Louisa Higgins and Luis Fausto. In the webinar, they share text, images and multiple film clips from four current artists doing powerful work worldwide:

• JR
• Ai Wei Wei
• Jackie Sumell
• Vik Muniz

The presentation also pairs each artist with a lesser known artist, who draws inspiration from one of the profiled artists, showing how that influence is affecting change in different spheres of influence.

This video is meant for educational use by secondary arts teachers and students. It took several months to compile and complete, and we happily share it with you and hope that you too are inspired to ask…Can Art Change the World?

We also hope that this introduction to such a talented and motivated artists will spur you to further investigate them and their entire bodies of work. Our collection of artist and content resources can help you get started.

The Arts at RCOE did a group of webinars called "Children's Literature and Art Series." For each session, they highlighted an outstanding work of children's literature. The books were paired with an art project that was developed in conjunction with Karen Riley of the S.C.R.A.P. Gallery. Teachers and parents attended the live webinars, and now these webinars are made available for viewing at one's convenience. Enjoy!

In this webinar presentation, Louisa Higgins will offer a variety of examples of historical and current graphic novels. She will also present comics done by three local artists, along with an interpretation and explanation of their work. There will be an opportunity to create one’s own two-to-five-panel comic during the session. This presentation will connect to all the current educational pedagogies, including how the arts help with healing and well-being.

• Blank Comic Frames Handouts

Feedback from participants:

“I will be approaching comics more visually, with less emphasis on writing. I like the clarity of Louisa's set up.”

“So appreciate you and all the work that went into preparing such an informative and inspiring workshop. Definitely taking this back to my art classes!”

Easy Arts for Everyone lessons are provided by Louisa Higgins, Riverside County Office of Education's The Arts Administrator. She is also an accomplished professional artist, with an extensive background in teaching art to both students and teachers.

These easy art lessons are suitable for a variety of age groups and can be done with simple materials found around the home or classroom. Please subscribe to the Easy Arts for Everyone channel to be notified as new lessons are produced.

Wycinanki Paper Cutting

Previous Lessons

Culturally Relevant Playlist

Professional Development Playlist

Social and Emotional Learning Playlist

 S.T.E.A.M. Integrated Playlist

Teacher/Parent Resources Playlist

In support of Dr. Edwin Gomez's Mental Health Initiative, the RCOE Arts Program teaches live art classes from time to time. We do these sessions via Zoom to include colleagues from throughout our county. These are a hour long, geared to any skill level, and meant as a fun and relaxing brain break, ice breaker or staff meeting activity. 

"You have the power to heal your life, and you need to know that. We think so often that we are helpless, but we're not. We always have the power of our minds... Claim and consciously use your power."

-Louise Hay

We will add more videos as classes occur throughout the year.  Remember to make time for you!

An Homage to Piet Mondrian

Make an art piece like a master with this simple technique using just straight lines and primary colors.  You will be amazed what you can create!

On the Road Where Jack Kerouac and Bob Ross Meet!

Louisa Higgins and her student intern, Adam Ramirez, take on the personas of Bob Ross (artist) and Jack Kerouac (poet) to share this watercolor landscape lesson, infused with poetry readings.

Optical Illusion Art

In this 45-minute session, participants will make a drawing that appears three dimensional, though it is only dimensional. Fun for all ages!

Mindful Marks: Harnessing the Wellness Benefits of Zentangle Drawing

Using only white paper and a black pen, Louisa Higgins will instruct viewers on how to create a simple, accessible artwork suitable for every learner.

Design Your Workspace

Did you know that a poorly designed office can lead to higher stress levels? Reworking your office layout can increase productivity and help you work more efficiently.

RCOE Arts Administrator and professional Interior Designer, Louisa Higgins, explains how our environment impacts our mental and physical health and offers tips and tricks for creating a work space that can have a positive impact on both.

Download the presentation slides (PDF).

Fun and Easy Papercutting Arts

Artist Louisa Higgins will show you how to make a little magic with a simple art activity that anyone can do. Utilizing only paper, scissors and glue, you can make artwork that is joyful and colorful. This is an activity that once you learn it, can be readily shared with your children, family and friends. Guaranteed to be a non-intimidating and relaxing experience!

Materials

• 4-6 pieces of different colored paper (suggest white, black and several bright colors) - can be copy and/or construction paper.
• Scissors.
• White glue or glue stick.

My Heart's Journey Art Class

Join us as artist Louisa Higgins presents a guided art experience. Louisa will take you on "My Heart's Journey" which is a reflective and healing art practice. She starts by sharing the book/poem, My Heart by Corinna Luyken. Then, she guides the group in how to tell one’s personal life story through an individualized art piece. No art background needed...just show up and we will make a personal and meaningful artwork together!

Enhancing Our Work Space With Art

Humans thrive when they are surrounded by or experience beauty. A bright creative workspace can make employees more productive, lower stress and increase well-being. In this project you will use a simple prop (a live flower, which will be provided) and interpret it first as a drawing and then as a watercolor painting. Artists can then have the painting in their offices to enhance the beauty of their daily working environment.

Ignite Your Inner Artist

Treat yourself to exploring your creative side as you learn how to create Paper Collages. This art project will pay special attention to the music, feelings of the participant, color choices and cutting techniques to design your collage. Join us today and begin your journey of developing a sustainable creative practice to release stress, increase empathy and encourage kindness to yourself.

Promote Creativity in the Workplace

Creativity in the workplace encourages us to connect with one another and have a greater respect for others and their work. In this workshop you will explore Pen and Ink Partner Portraits and focus on the enjoyment of paying attention to the subject of your portrait as well as what it’s like to be the subject. Participants will talk, laugh and enjoy the experience regardless of the outcome of the portraits!

This brief 15-minute slide deck and video covers the link between music and literacy. It also talks about how music engages the SEL capacities AND can be a therapy. This presentation was developed for an in-person workshop which featured a presenter on early childhood songs in the morning, and a presenter who shared percussive instruments in elementary in the afternoon. This information was the "bridge" in between.

The Arts at RCOE created a limited series called SPOTLIGHT ON CULTURAL DANCE. The goal of this series of professional learning webinars is to introduce and share dance forms from a variety of cultures from around the world.

We begin the effort with a presentation on Haka dance from the Maori people of New Zealand. Soon, we hope to add presentations about West African and Indigenous/Native American dance.

Spotlight on Cultural Dance: Lamba

Spotlight on Cultural Dance: Haka

From the 2020 Arts Framework:

Dance as Culture, History, and Connectors

Dance-literate citizens relate ideas and works with societal, cultural, and historical contexts from varied historical periods and cultures to deepen understanding. They actively seek and appreciate diverse forms and genres of dance. They understand the enduring quality and significance of these diverse forms and genres of dance. They seek to understand relationships of different genres. Dancers cultivate habits of searching for and identifying patterns and relationships between dance and other knowledge.