ArtsSmarts Durham Region

Through the Ontario Ministry of Education's Student Success initiative, Durham District School Board (DDSB) partnered with ArtsSmarts to offer DDSB students a unique learning situation: the opportunity to use the arts to experience the delivery of core curriculum, such as mathematics, language, science, history and geography. The use of this method of differentiated instruction through student engagement in authentic, hands-on, risk-encouraging, and culturally and personally relevant activities is supported and enhanced by the collaboration of teachers and community artists to provide a unique learning experience.

Through its in-house data analysis department, and with the support of ArtsSmarts and its pan-Canadian partners, DDSB has taken the lead on the research components of this collaborative artist-teacher effort through the planning, creation, evolution and refinement of ArtsSmarts' research instruments. DDSB is also responsible for mentoring and facilitating the work of other Ontario partner sites through the sharing of best practices, discussion and comparison of resources, documentation of concepts and on-site support of partner initiatives and programs.