Showcasing the expertise of
Board of Trustees Awards Educators of the Year
Minnesota State is filled with incredible faculty who are doing amazing work focused on their teaching craft. The purpose of the Network for Educational Development (NED) Excellence in Teaching Series is to continue honoring and showcasing the experience and expertise of the Board of Trustees (BOT) Awards for Excellence Educators of the Year through the opportunity to present, share, or teach about teaching and learning topics that have contributed to their recognition as excellent educators.
This seventh installment of the NED Excellence in Teaching Series, “I can’t teach with the arts, and other academic lies we tell ourselves” is facilitated by:
J. Scott Baker
2025 Educator of the Year
St. Cloud State University
I can’t teach with the arts, and other academic lies we tell ourselves
While everyone isn’t an art educator, we can all use arts-based practices (written, visual, multi-modal) to reach diverse learners in classrooms. This two-part session will showcase the use of various arts-based pedagogical practices in classrooms of all content areas and levels. Focusing on learning through art, these sessions guide educators on how to infuse small or large arts-based activities as a mechanism to build student voice, allow for creativity, and further engagement.
Session One: Breaking the Myth
November 13 @ 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Explore common concerns about using arts-based practices (written, visual, multi-modal) in teaching and discover practical strategies for integrating arts-based activities into any content area. This session offers examples and guidance for educators new to arts-infused pedagogy as well as opportunity to create their own arts-based assignments.
Session Two: Going Deeper
November 20 @ 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Build on foundational ideas with expanded examples of arts-based practices (written, visual, multi-modal) that foster student voice, creativity, and engagement. This session supports educators ready to deepen their use of art in the classroom as well as opportunity to create their own arts-based assignments.
The Board of Trustees Awards for Excellence acknowledge and provide systemwide recognition for consistently superior commitment to student learning of our college and university teaching and service faculty.
View videos and programs from previous Board of Trustees Awards at MinnState.edu/BOTawards.
