Welcome to InsideART, an innovative web-based visual literacy program that integrates social studies with contemporary art in an examination and discussion of critical societal issues. This secondary school program is provided free of charge to all teachers by the Institute for Research in Art at the University of South Florida, Tampa. InsideART is a learning-based initiative, designed for classro
om use, associated with the exhibition program of the University of South Florida’s Contemporary Art Museum (USFCAM). Using a variety of web technologies and media, including video, web-based dialogues, and social media, InsideART presents critical issues to students and invites them to engage and connect with these issues in the context of contemporary art. By exploring art that encompasses a variety of relevant topics, students are allowed to move from the role of spectator to that of engaged viewer and then participant, and encouraged to build interpretive skills vital to success in learning. Rich in dynamic and informative content, InsideART serves as both an excellent supplement to Museum visits and as an effective stand-alone educational unit. InsideART is a collaboration among faculty and staff in the USF Institute for Research in Art, the USF College of Education and the School District of Hillsborough County. The program was created by Noel Smith, Deputy Director of USFCAM, and Dr. Bárbara C. Cruz, Professor of Social Science Education, CoED; lessons are conceptualized and written by Smith and Cruz and volunteer faculty in the respective disciplines.
