MYP Creative Arts @TISA

MYP Creative Arts
@TISA

Meet the Teachers ...
Mrs. Vicki Gardner is the Head of Secondary Creative Arts, Head of
Pastoral Care for M4 & M5 and also teaches M4 & M5 Drama & IB Theatre.
This is her second year at TISA, originally from England, she comes to us
from the Antwerp International School.
Gardner_Victoria@tisa.az
Ms. Emma Burns is the Head of Primary Creative Arts. She teaches performance
in the Primary school and Music from M1 through to M5. Ms. Burns
is originally from Australia and joins us from an International School in
Vietnam. This is her second year teaching at TISA.
Burns_Emma@tisa.az
Department Philosophy
The Secondary Arts department at TISA aims to encourage creativity in every student; to empower
students to take risks and make choices that are outside of their comfort zone. We aim to provide
opportunities for every student to be successful in this department, in some way, and to celebrate
those successes with the student, parents and the wider community. We aim to teach students holistically,
in that we believe it is our responsibility to not only prepare students for employment in the
Arts, but also to develop the student’s transferable skills so that their education within the Arts can
prepare them for success in other areas. Finally, we value the learning opportunities that the creative
process can bring, but, when appropriate, also believe in the value of having a final product whose
quality also reflects the learning experience.

Mr. Brian Hawkeswood is originally from Australia and has
taught at TISA for two years. Mr. Hawkeswood teaches MYP
Art, M1 - M5 and IB Art. Previously, Mr. Hawkeswood taught in
Mongolia, China, Thailand and England.
Hawkeswood_Brian@tisa.az
Alex McTaggart comes from Britain, and teaches English and
Drama internationally. Alex teaches performance in Primary,
and Drama in MYP M1-3, and comes to us from the Higher Colleges
of Technology in Abu Dhabi.
Technical Assistants
We have two technical assistants who work within the
department and who you may see around the school. Tunjay
& Anar have both worked at the school for many years and
help the students with their technical needs.
McTaggart_Alex@tisa.az
Creative Arts @ TISA
M1, M2 & M3
In M1, M2 and M3, students have the opportunity to
experience Music, Drama and Visual Art. Students have two
ninety-minute periods of arts per week.
Classes rotate so that students have an equal number of
lessons in each discipline. At least one Arts unit per year
is interdisciplinary, with at least two Arts’ disciplines working towards a culminating
performance/exhibition.
Students are graded on criteria A, B, C and D, and criteria are modified for each grade
level.
Creative Arts @ TISA
M4 & M5
When students reach M4, they must choose one of the
three Arts subjects to specialise in . The student will
then only study the chosen Art form for the final two
years of MYP.
As is the case earlier on down the school, students will
study their chosen Art form for two ninety minute lessons
every week. There are occasions in both M4 & M5
where two or more Art forms combine to lead a unit.
Students must choose carefully which Art form they
wish to specialise in. Students may only have the first
two weeks at the beginning of M4 to make a change.
After that, they must stay with their choice until the
MYP is complete at the end of M5. At the end of M5,
students work is sent off for moderation . This includes
evidence of both written and practical work.

Assessment in the Creative Arts
Departmental Policy: We believe that using assessment for learning is an excellent way to make students more engaged in their own
education. By increasing their self awareness and guiding them in making value judgements against assessment criteria, students become
increasingly aware about what is needed to improve and can therefore make plans and set targets that will help them to achieve this. In
this way, the department uses self, peer and teacher assessment as a teaching tool to ensure that students get the most out of their studies.
To further facilitate this process, for each assessment task, we aim to provide a help sheet that not only provides the criteria that the
student will be assessed by, but that the student can use to guide them through the process step by step.
Assessment Criteria; MYP Arts
One of the really great things about the MYP Creative
Arts is that from M1 through to M5, students are judged
against the same four assessment objectives, so students
get plenty of opportunities to practice meeting them.
Additionally, Music, Art and Drama all use the same four
objectives for assessment which enables us to streamline
the programme that we deliver.
The Developmental Workbook
Accompanying the practical work, students must complete
a ‘Developmental Workbook’ that contains ideas, analysis,
reflections, explorations. It is important that the ‘DW’ is an
accurate reflection of a student’s ability in the subject as
this is sent away for moderation in M5 and is a tool that
helps teachers to justify the grades that they have given.
The Four Assessment Objectives
Knowledge & Understanding: Students have to show that they understand
the content and skills that they are being taught. They can do this
through an analysis of a piece of work in the style that they are studying,
an essay that explores how that art form has originated from culture, a
bruchure teaching younger students about the art form, a rubric that
could be used to assess other people working within that art form etc.
Application: This is where the student’s practical work is assessed. Students
must apply skills, techniques and processes to create, perform and/
or present art.
Reflection & Evaluation: Students will be asked to reflect and evaluate
both verbally and in their Developmental Workbook. Students should
reflect on the process of creating Art work as well as the final product that
they create.
Personal Engagement: This assessment objective is concerned with a
student’s attitude to learning throughout the unit; whether they are motivated,
show initiative & curiousity and if they are receptive to art forms
from all around the world. This will be evident both in the practical work
done in class time and in the work that evolves through the Developmental
Workbook.

Developmental Workbook : the written creative process
In order to demonstrate their level of ability, the work contained in the Developmental Workbook should be thorough, up to date and completed using the assessment
checklists and clarified assessment criteria. The Developmental Workbook should contain a variety of different types of work - this varies between age group & subject.
We aim to provide a checklist and clarified / modified interpretation of the assessment criteria for each significant assessment task. The content of the help sheet is
adjusted according to the assessment task, the subject and the age group, however the department will use a shared format so that students learn how to use the sheet
to enhance the quality of their work.
Music
In M1 Music students use
their DW to record their research
and understanding
of musical elements such
Visual Art - M3
as dynamics and texture.
Visual Art - M5
Research projects that fit under Criterion
In M5 Music students use Students will include all art work completed in M4 and
A will eventually be included in the DW
their DW to record their M5. Accompanying each piece of art work should be
and clear links should be made between
daily lesson logs.
examples of experiments with colour and texture that
the research and how it was applied.
will have contributed to making the final piece of art.
Drama - M5
Students include photographs of themselves
completing the practical work as
it can be a helpful way of demonstrating
the level of personal engagement shown
in the unit as well as demonstrating
how the knowledge has been applied
practically. Students will workl through a
student template designed for each unit.
This ensures that students’ work meets
the assessment criteria.
M1 - Drama
Students complete similar assessment tasks to all other
MYP Arts students, but the task is modified to make it
more suitable for the age group e.g. research is often
recorded as bullet points and creative ideas are generated
as a group.
Drama M4
Students have to include
all of their rough ideas
in the form of sketches,
mindmaps, brainstorms
etc. They have to be sure
to include explicit references
to the knowledge
gained for Criterion A.
M4 Drama students work
through a unit template
that is unique to each unit
of work and guides the
students through the MYP
creative process.

TISA Sound and Lighting Equipment Hire Policy
TISA has a large amount of sound and lighting equipment available for the use
of the TISA community. Parents and Teachers are welcome to borrow this
equipment for school related events. If you would like to borrow equipment,
please see the procedures below. Your assistance with this policy means that
equipment will be properly maintained and available when needed. Many
thanks for your cooperation.
Hire a Student Technician:
Sound and lighting equipment can only be operated by a trained student
technician. Contact Emma Burns at burns_emma@tisa.az or Tunjay at
Elkhanzade_tunjay@tisa.az for an up-to-date list of technicians. Having a
technician at your event is essential if electrical equipment is to be used.
Students will receive community service hours for their services.
Initial notification:
Contact Tunjay at Elkhanzade_Tunjay@tisa.az, or in the high school music room
at least one week before your event. You will need to tell him what your event is,
the date and time, and the name of the technician working with you. He will give
you a copy of the Arts Equipment Request form.
Arts Equipment Request form:
Complete this form with as much detail as possible and return to Tunjay at least
three days before your event.
Approval Confirmation:
Tunjay will then send your form to the relevant arts teacher for approval. He will
then notify you by email. Your equipment request is not confirmed until you have
received an email notification.
Equipment return:
Our musical instruments and equipment are often used by classes, and we would
greatly appreciate having it returned by 8.30am the morning after your event, so as
not to disrupt lessons. Tunjay is available from 8.15 till 4pm to sign-in equipment.
Creative Arts Open Door Policy
Because we believe in working in partnership with parents, we would like to extend an open
invitation to you to come and see us in action. Please contact us via Gardner_Victoria@tisa.az
if you would like to come & observe the Creative Arts being taught at TISA.
We would also like to encourage parents to get in touch with the Creative Arts teachers in the
spririt of open communication. As teaching timetables can make phone calls difficult at times,
sending an email to us can be more convenient. Our individual email addresses have been
listed next to each of our names on the first page.
MYP Opportunities in 2011/2012 academic year:
* Secondary school show (Dec 11)
* M1 - M3 school show (March 12)
* M4 - IB1 school show (June 12)
M4 - IB2 Arts trip to London (Oct 2011)
M1 - M3 MYP Arts trip to london (June 2012)
+ school choir, band, orchestra, art studio, instrumentalists

Extra-Curricular Programme
At TISA, we believe in the importance of offering an extra curricular programme that creates opportunities
for all students to flourish in the Arts. Although our programme will change each year in
order to meet the needs of all of our students, we aim to provide at least two opportunities per year,
for students to showcase their talents.
At the heart of our extra-curricular programme is the philosophy that the products being created
are student driven; that it is their ideas that are moving the product forward. Additionally, the extracurricular
programme is fully inclusive to all students; everybody has the right to participate.
Finally, we aim to make our activities fun, dynamic and organised so that the students can make the
most of their time participating in our programme.
Creative Arts Parents
If you would like to support the Creative Arts department in their extra-curricular programme and
have some time to spare, we are looking to add to our CAP team. To become a member, contact Vicki
on Gardner_Victoria@tisa.az
We look forward to working with you!
Vicki, Emma, Alex & Brian