The Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) curriculum was developed to engage beginning viewers in looking at works of art and has been used with children in many parts of the United States and Eastern Europe. The VTS was designed to develop critical thinking in viewing art and to enhance the function of the teacher as the facilitator of the reasoning…

In order to explore new ways of talking to and with composition students, an instructor might ask whether visual artists can teach college writing instructors about the composing process and, whether, by stepping outside the discipline, insights can be gained for more effective teaching of first-year writing students. For one instructor,…

This paper explains the method and value of critical aesthetic inquiry when researching the teaching of art. The paper contends that teaching is an art, and the only appropriate way to research art practice is through an artistic approach to critical inquiry. The paper explains how art education research is distinctive from scientific research. It…

This teaching guide gives a brief overview of The Netherlands during Johannes Vermeer's career and describes and discusses his painting "The Girl in the Red Hat." The guide presents illustrations of four of Vermeer's paintings. It suggests activities for elementary school, middle school, and high school. (BT)

The first step in learning to appreciate art is learning to classify a work according to its primary purpose. The artist creates art for one of three reasons: to recreate the physical world (Imitationalism); to express an idea or feeling (Emotionalism); or to create an interesting design (Formalism). A classified work may then be critiqued by: (1)…

The purpose of this study is to define the essential characteristics of Rastafarian art and to explore it as a part of the Rastafarian social identity. To do this, the paper: (1) examines the Rastafarian movement and its development; (2) discusses the techniques, images, and symbolism used; (3) reviews Rastafarian artists to gain an insight into…

The papers gathered in this volume were presented at the 1995 meeting of the American Educational Research Association; many were part of the Arts and Learning Special Interest Group programs. Papers in the volume explore a range of research interests and conceptualizations for the arts. Following an editorial, papers are: "Beyond the Public…

This volume contains papers presented at the 1997 meeting of the American Educational Research Association; many were presented as part of Arts and Learning programs. The papers gathered in the volume explore in a variety of ways the notions of space: artistic, cultural, domestic, personal, political, public, private, and virtual and how spaces…

The role of arts education has been receiving increasing emphasis in early childhood education. This paper maintains that teaching itself may be considered an artistic, creative activity in the following ways: (1) teaching presents an artistic performance to the student; (2) the teacher has to make judgments during the course of instruction; (3)…

Art works created with conventional materials reflect the hand of the artist. Artists with physical disabilities such as muscular spasms, weakness, or limitations of mobility impedes efforts to produce works of art. An experimental program uses computers to introduce art curricula into two British schools: (1) Thurlow Park (a school for children…

This paper seeks to bridge visual arts education and educational policy decisions to improve student learning in the visual arts. Moving this agenda forward will require the National Art Education Association's (NAEA) Board of Directors and its constituency groups to commit to (1) use the organization's resources and intellectual capital to inform…

This grid for planning visual arts teaching in Delaware kindergarten outlines the following six standards for students to complete: (1) students will select and use form, media, techniques, and processes to create works of art and communicate meaning; (2) students will create ways to use visual, spatial, and temporal concepts in creating works of…

This paper describes a disruptive model of interpretation which explores positions in discursive practices embedded in visual culture as a means of understanding self and difference. The model understands interpretation as a Foucauldian technique of the self, and its use may give art teachers and students strategies for understanding the social…

In response to a need for curricular support, the Idaho State Department of Education gathered teams of exemplary educators from throughout the state to write courses of study related to all subject areas within Idaho?s Achievement Standards. A need arose to assess areas not tested statewide in a performance-based manner. Teachers involved in…

Considered the development of perceptual awareness in childhood, when habits of behavior are being formulated and response sets are being established. (Author/RK)