Growing Capabilities

A global collaboration drawing on neuroscience and Executive Functions to shape deep learning.

Art of Learning grew from a collaboration between CCE and the Centre for the Development of Inclusive Technologies (CEDETi) at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile.  Bringing together CCE’s knowledge of creativity in learning and CEDETi’s innovative assessment of Executive Functions we co-designed a programme drawing on the research of leading neuroscientist Adele Diamond.

After initial pilots in Scotland and Norway, Art of Learning evolved through a larger study involving partners in both Norway and Hungary. Together, we explored how Executive Functions, and creative classrooms can be developed in tandem, supporting learners to engage more deeply in their learning.

Our Process 

According to Adele Diamond, EFs are mental functions located in the front of our brain (in the prefrontal cortex). They work as a type of floating intelligence, regulating our behaviour. EFs make us capable of reasoning, problem solving, understanding what we hear in a conversation or in a school lesson, making choices, exercising self-control and discipline and most importantly to our work, developing creative competencies.

Three sub-functions as defined by Diamond are:

  • Working memory (keeping information that is no longer perceptually accessible)
  • Inhibition (controlling emotions, thoughts, feelings and behaviour, making us capable of focussing on what we want)
  • Cognitive Flexibility (closely connected with creativity and the ability to think outside the box, change perspectives and change opinions)

CCE mapped these Executive Functions against the five creative habits, in the diagram above. This informed the design and implementation of the Art of Learning professional learning, classroom activities and reporting metrics.   

 

Partners

Centre for the Development of Inclusive Technologies (CEDETi), Chile

Innlandet County Council, Norway

T-Tudok Centre for Knowledge Management and Educational Research , Hungary

The project was co-designed and co-implemented with creatively brave schools in the following regions: 

Norway - Lillehammer, Øyer, Søndre Land, Tynset, Alvdal, Tolga 

Hungary- regions of Budapest and Pecs. 

 

As the project manager for The Art of Learning, I would say that the collaboration with CCE in The Art of Learning has been crucial. The expertise and experience CCE has brought to the project has strengthened both the development of the curriculum, the intervention and the support we have been able to provide to teachers and artists along the way. For me as a manager and facilitator, CCE's expertise has been a good support and sparring partner in the project, which has allowed me to dare to take risks and challenge both myself and others in a positive way.’

 
Marie Othilie Hundevadt, Innlandet County Council, Norway

AoL was an international project, and an educational intervention designed to support the development of learners’ Executive Functions (EFs) through creative pedagogy. The project builds on the 3 pilots led by CCE, implemented in Ayrshire, Scotland in 2017 and 2018, and in Oppland, Norway in 2018. The primary goal of the project was to investigate whether the implementation of a 48-week, art-based curriculum might lead to an improvement in the EFs of the children involved. AoL was implemented in primary schools, with participating children in grade 1 and 2 when the project implementation started in autumn 2021, and grade 2 and 3 when the implementation ended in spring 2024

The AoL toolkit comprises an extensive programme of thematic lesson plans, with input from creative practitioners and a digital executive function assessment tool Yellow/Red developed by the CEDETI. It is a is set of joyful and energising activities that support improvements in cognitive function, working memory and inhibitory control in the children to benefit achievement, collaboration, confidence and engagement with, and enjoyment of learning. 

 

Programme Outcomes

The results and research findings from this programme can contribute to better understanding of Executive Function’s development; it can help understand what happens when children work with the arts, and it can provide evidence-based advocacy material for making space for more arts-based learning in schools.

 

A handbook of resources, relevant and practical lesson plans and activities co-designed and implemented through the Art of Learning programme (144 lessons organised across 24 cross-curricular themes. Each theme consists of 6 x 90 minutes sessions)

 

Recruitment and training materials for artists and teachers to work in Art of Learning or similar creative learning programs. 

10 Pillars of Holistic and Irresistable Learning