Teaching with Art Workshop spring series starts Feb. 11

Looking for fresh approaches to engage students and spark their curiosity?

This spring’s “Teaching with Art: The Perfect Intersection” workshop series brings together Colorado State University faculty from across campus to experiment with object-based learning, visual literacy and creative teaching methods that work in any classroom.

Take part in this new monthly series where you’ll explore how art objects and visual learning can enhance your teaching effectiveness and deepen student engagement no matter what discipline you teach.

Supported by campus-wide expertise and partnerships, the series offers practical, ready-to-use strategies for integrating visual literacy, critical inquiry and object-based learning into your courses.

Series highlights

The Teaching with Art series meets once per month throughout spring 2026. Each 60-minute session features interactive, hands-on exploration of creative pedagogical approaches you can apply right away. Topics span the full spectrum of academic disciplines — from STEAM integration to visual writing prompts — demonstrating the versatility of art-based teaching methods.

What you’ll gain

• Object-based teaching techniques applicable across disciplines
• New ways to engage with CSU’s cultural collections as teaching resources
• Connections with colleagues to share cross-disciplinary insights and ideas
• Fresh approaches to critical thinking and student engagement
• Skills for facilitating difficult conversations through visual media

Why teaching with art?

Object-based learning deepens student comprehension, encourages multiple perspectives and fosters creativity. By bringing art into conversation with fields ranging from animal science to engineering, this series demonstrates how visual and material learning can enliven any classroom and help students make meaningful connections.

Open to all CSU faculty and graduate students

All workshops are free and open to all CSU instructors. Attend individual sessions based on your interests or join us for the complete series. Sessions run from noon to 1 p.m. to accommodate your schedule.

We’re here to support your teaching journey — come learn, connect and discover new possibilities with colleagues across campus!

Teaching With Art: The Perfect Intersection workshop schedule

Art-Making as a Way to Learn (and Do) Anything!

Feb. 11 | Noon to 1 p.m. | Gregory Allicar Museum of Art – 1400 Remington St.

Facilitator: David Pyle

The arts create transformative pathways to engage and understand science, mathematics, engineering and the humanities. Join us for an exploration of hands-on, actionable methods for integrating the arts into your curriculum. Be ready to dig into organic chemistry through papermaking, physics through music and color, materials science through painting and cultural identity through quilting. These are just a few of the integrations that we’ll explore.

Oh My Muybridge! Horse Evolution, Photography and the (Crazy) Artistic Invention of Cinema!

March 4 | Noon to 1 p.m. | Gregory Allicar Museum of Art – 1400 Remington St.

Facilitators: David Pyle and Stephen Coleman

How does image-making and photography illuminate our understanding of that magnificent machine, the horse? For this ‘Teaching with Art’ session with Dr. Stephen Coleman, CSU Associate Professor of Animal Sciences and David Pyle, CSU Green+Gold Instructor, we’ll explore how the art of photography brings meaning to the science of equine evolution, culture and locomotion. From there, participants will have the opportunity to participate in the creation of a range of art/science interdisciplinary models for the classroom.

Sparking Learning through Image and Words: Creative Techniques for Student Engagement

April 8 | Noon 1 p.m. | Morgan Library Lobby

Facilitator: Tobi Jacobi

This workshop invites participants to experiment with image and writing as classroom strategies for engaging students in course content. We will explore several sample activities that can be adapted to any discipline as tools for deepening investment in content and creative approaches to standard assignments.

The Art, Physics and Transformative Power of the Pipe Organ!

May 6 | Noon to 1 p.m. | Organ Recital Hall, University Center for the Arts

Facilitators: Joel Bacon and David Pyle

Does music really align your cellular structure while it elevates your spirit? There’s science behind why the pipe organ shakes you to your boots and bones … and your soul. Join Dr. Joel Bacon, CSU Music Professor and David Pyle, CSU Green+Gold Instructor, as we showcase the physics of music making and the organ. Discussion will include how this work can model the creation of a range of art/science interdisciplinary models for the classroom.