Standing
Graduate (Masters)
Type of Proposal
Poster Presentation
Challenges Theme
Open Challenge
Your Location
Windsor, Ontario
Faculty
Faculty of Education
Faculty Sponsor
Zuochen Zhang
Proposal
Teaching and Learning arts in school: Perspectives of teachers and students in China
The discipline-based art education (DBAE) was implemented in schools as art can improve learners’ expressiveness and elaboration, creative ability (Burton, Horowitz, & Abeles, 2000), critical thinking (Geahigan, 1997; Lampert, 2006), and their learning in other subjects (Barby & Catterall, 1994). Although the Chinese education system has undergone continuous reform, discipline-based art education (DBAE) does not match the 1) speed of economic development, 2) the blueprint of constructing the quality-oriented educational system, as well as 3) the learning needs of students (Niu, 2005). Additionally, the prosperous art education market on the school outside mirrors the dissatisfaction of students and parents for the art education provided by the school curriculum (Li, 2018).
This proposed qualitative case study aims to explore the learning experience of students enrolled in elementary schools in China to understand their perspectives and expectations of DBAE. The theoretical framework of this study is the environment and development of creativity.Eglinton (2003) proposes a theoretical model where art-making, encounters with art, and aesthetic experiences are integrated and equally weighted. Based on this model, The DBAE is important because schools can provide art aesthetic teaching, art-making experience, and an active learning atmosphere with students.
This study focuses on the following three research questions:
1) How do students and their parents perceive their learning in art classes in school?
2) What factors affect their evaluation of the DBAE?
3) What expectations do they have for discipline-based art education?
The participants in this study are elementary students who enrolled in elementary schools in Tianjin, China. All of these participants have experienced art instruction in school. Some of them have taken extra-curriculum art tutoring. Based on their experiences in terms of the time arrangement, course content, teaching pedagogy, and evaluation methods, a qualitative study for analyzing the deficiencies of DBAE will be conducted. The researcher will 1) survey participants to gather their demographic background and 2) interview them to obtain more in-depth information regarding their arts learning experience in school, including instructions they got, challenges they experienced, and expectations they have.
In Canada, the DBAE is also threatened because of the rising impact of neoliberalism. According to Statistic Canada, only 46% of elementary schools reported that they have a music teacher, either full time or part-time in 2018. Only 16% of elementary schools with grades 7 or 8 reports having a visual arts teacher, and just 8% of schools have access to a specialist drama teacher (Arts education, 2018). The role of education is to provide an equal educational opportunity for students no matter where they live and what economic background they have. When students are not free to learn what they want, and teachers cannot carry out new pedagogies, education is not what it should be. With the economic globalization nowadays, there is a need for educators and to communicate and share educational experiences across a range of cultures and countries. It is my hope that this poster presentation will benefit the audience and provide a stepping stone for my future comparative research between Canada and China within this field.
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Special Considerations
This is the references of the abstract:
Barby, J. T., & Catterall, J. S. (1994). The fourth R: The arts and learning. Teachers College Record, 96(2), 299-328.
Burton, J. M., Horowitz, R., & Abeles, H. (2000). Learning in and through the arts: The question of transfer. Studies in Art Education, 41(3), 228-257. doi: 10.1080/00393541.2000.11651679
Eglinton, K. A. (2003). Art in the early years. New York, NY: RoutledgeFalmer.
Geahigan, G. (1997). Art criticism: From theory to practice. In T. Wolff, T. & G. Geahigan (Eds.), Art criticism and education (pp.125-278). Urbana, IL: University of Illinois Press.
Lampert, N. (2006). Critical thinking dispositions as an outcome of art education. Studies in Art Education, 47(3), 215-228. doi: 10.2307/25475782
Li, Y. (2018, September 4). 2018 nian zhongguo shaoer yishu peixun fazhan qushi fenxi [Analysis on the development trend of Chinese art training in 2018]. Forward-The Economist. Retrieved from: https://www.qianzhan.com/analyst/detail/220/180904-14efce56.html
Niu, J. (2005). Dui zhongxue meishu jiaoyu kunjing xianzhuang de sikao [A reflection to the plight of secondary school's art Education]. Yi shu jiao yu, 5, 20-21.
Teaching and Learning arts in school: Perspectives of teachers and students in China
Teaching and Learning arts in school: Perspectives of teachers and students in China
The discipline-based art education (DBAE) was implemented in schools as art can improve learners’ expressiveness and elaboration, creative ability (Burton, Horowitz, & Abeles, 2000), critical thinking (Geahigan, 1997; Lampert, 2006), and their learning in other subjects (Barby & Catterall, 1994). Although the Chinese education system has undergone continuous reform, discipline-based art education (DBAE) does not match the 1) speed of economic development, 2) the blueprint of constructing the quality-oriented educational system, as well as 3) the learning needs of students (Niu, 2005). Additionally, the prosperous art education market on the school outside mirrors the dissatisfaction of students and parents for the art education provided by the school curriculum (Li, 2018).
This proposed qualitative case study aims to explore the learning experience of students enrolled in elementary schools in China to understand their perspectives and expectations of DBAE. The theoretical framework of this study is the environment and development of creativity.Eglinton (2003) proposes a theoretical model where art-making, encounters with art, and aesthetic experiences are integrated and equally weighted. Based on this model, The DBAE is important because schools can provide art aesthetic teaching, art-making experience, and an active learning atmosphere with students.
This study focuses on the following three research questions:
1) How do students and their parents perceive their learning in art classes in school?
2) What factors affect their evaluation of the DBAE?
3) What expectations do they have for discipline-based art education?
The participants in this study are elementary students who enrolled in elementary schools in Tianjin, China. All of these participants have experienced art instruction in school. Some of them have taken extra-curriculum art tutoring. Based on their experiences in terms of the time arrangement, course content, teaching pedagogy, and evaluation methods, a qualitative study for analyzing the deficiencies of DBAE will be conducted. The researcher will 1) survey participants to gather their demographic background and 2) interview them to obtain more in-depth information regarding their arts learning experience in school, including instructions they got, challenges they experienced, and expectations they have.
In Canada, the DBAE is also threatened because of the rising impact of neoliberalism. According to Statistic Canada, only 46% of elementary schools reported that they have a music teacher, either full time or part-time in 2018. Only 16% of elementary schools with grades 7 or 8 reports having a visual arts teacher, and just 8% of schools have access to a specialist drama teacher (Arts education, 2018). The role of education is to provide an equal educational opportunity for students no matter where they live and what economic background they have. When students are not free to learn what they want, and teachers cannot carry out new pedagogies, education is not what it should be. With the economic globalization nowadays, there is a need for educators and to communicate and share educational experiences across a range of cultures and countries. It is my hope that this poster presentation will benefit the audience and provide a stepping stone for my future comparative research between Canada and China within this field.