Visual Art
Creativity is fundamental to the student journey at Dulwich College (Singapore) and students throughout the College have the opportunity to express themselves through a wide range of media. The College has a vibrant art programme within the curriculum and has cultivated collaborative relationships and partnerships with top educational and artistic institutions throughout the world, offering students direct access and exposure to creative industries, while developing transferable skills that will prepare them for life after Dulwich.
The study of Art and Design & Technology provides students with a portfolio of transferable skills in preparation for further study and the fundamentals for Graduating World wise. We aim to provide world class facilities, teaching and learning and enrichment opportunities for our students from DUCKS to IBDP.
Art
Art encourages students to examine and observe closely and repeatedly. When students take risks and experiment with art techniques and materials they learn valuable lessons about discovery, a key element of both art and science. In both art and science in order for students to communicate complex ideas and meanings, they need to demonstrate an understanding of visual language to convey ideas and concepts in a variety of ways.
When analysing artwork students draw on a range of transferable thinking dispositions including questioning, investigating, reasoning with evidence, exploring viewpoints and comparing and connecting. The study of art can encourage students to stretch their independent thought and encourage research, idea development and justification. These are skills which can only enhance and support student’s success in many other subjects.
The critical thinking routines built into art lessons enable students to analyse and interpret a range of artworks and equip learners with valuable skills in reasoning using evidence. Reasoning is a skill prized across a range of disciplines as well as across complex real world scenarios. Whether students critically evaluate artwork in written forms or through discussion, they are developing a rich descriptive vocabulary and an ability to thoughtfully express ideas, opinions and interpretations.
Appreciation of art can teach students about the differing personal values of artists, their role in society as well as bringing to life key moments and events in history. If students are able to appreciate artist’s differing viewpoints and the motivations and context behind the creation of art then they are opened up to new ways of perceiving the world.
Design and Technology
Design and Technology encompasses different ‘material areas’ including; Resistant materials (woods, metals, plastics), systems and control (engineering and electronics), graphic communications (including CAD/CAM), textiles and in addition; food technology.
Design and Technology prepares students to take part in the development of today’s rapidly changing world. Creative thinking encourages students to make positive changes to their quality of life. The subject encourages independent and creative problem-solving, both as individuals and as part of a team. It enables them to identify needs and opportunities and to respond by developing ideas and eventually making products and systems. Through the study of Design and Technology they combine practical skills with an understanding of aesthetic, social and environmental issues, as well as functions and industrial practices. This allows them to reflect on and evaluate present and past Design and Technology, its uses and its impacts. Design and Technology helps all students to become discriminating and informed consumers and potential innovators.
Design and Technology uses a variety of teaching and learning styles in lessons. The principal aim is to develop students’ knowledge, skills and understanding when developing ideas, planning and making products and then evaluating them. This is provided through a mixture of whole-class teaching and individual/group activities. Within lessons, students are provided the opportunity both to work on their own and to collaborate with others, listening to other ideas and treating these with respect. Students critically evaluate existing products, their own work and that of others. They have the opportunity to use a wide range of materials and resources.
