Learning becomes more applicable when students are able to connect their own life experiences to the topic at hand. Boyer believes that students should learn about themselves and their relationships to a subject, rather than simply studying about a topic. Unless the work of art and the student can make a long term connection, the value of the learning experience is quickly lost. Contrasting and comparing ancient Maya writing and imagery to writing and imagery used by twentieth-century societies bridges the vast span between times and cultures. Cultural pluralism, according to Boyer, is one of the standards of a democratic and free society.
American society continues to evolve and change.
Meeting the challenges of diversity is a central goal of quality teaching. The human commonalities provide a firm structure for this goal. Using the Human Commonalities Throughout this issue, look for lesson summaries, activities, and articles that relate to the use of the human commonalities as unifying themes. The focus of the centerfold lesson summary is John Biggers' Starry Crown , from the Dallas Museum of Art . Though the use of symbols may be the initial commonality that comes to mind when studying this work of art, a number of the other commonalities also may be applicable.