A traditional dichotomy has always existed between the quantitative origins of computers and the subjective and expressive nature of art. Computer technology, however, has become simultaneously more sophisticated in its application and more simplified in its use. Computers can now serve as viable and productive components of an art education…

Each chapter of this document describes a different project and approach for introducing students (elementary to high school) to oral history and folk arts. All chapters use a standard format in which a general overview of the project, describing themes, philosophies, and methods are followed by sample lesson plans, teacher guidelines, and student…

National Art Education Association (NAEA) presently is involved in initiating and supporting research efforts to advance visual arts education at all instructional levels and in all educational contexts. This document presents eight research areas with lists of general questions that need to be addressed, suggested research methodologies, and 10…

Identification of gifted students among cultural and linguistic minority groups and development of culturally relevant gifted programs have been problematic. In addition, although giftedness can manifest itself in many ways, few gifted programs have been established in nonacademic areas, especially in rural settings. This paper focuses on the…

This serial issue examines the theme of picture books as resources for art production and art response; gives specific project descriptions; and looks at the relationship between words and pictures, and the creative connection between art and language. Articles are: (1) "Editor's View" (Sharon McCoubrey); (2) "The Creative…

This paper highlights how introductory textbooks on Egyptian art inhibit understanding by reinforcing student preconceptions, and demonstrates another approach to discussing space with a classroom exercise and software. The alternative approach, an active model for spatial representation, introduced here was developed by adapting classroom…

This project is to help students learn about ways to investigate self-esteem and develop resiliency through the medium of visual art. The project is developed with middle school girls in mind but can be used with all people who experience some loss of self through socialization. The art studio lends itself to experiment with ideas and…

The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) has developed a new generation of assessment tasks for assessing student achievement in the visual arts. Using paper-and-pencil and performance formats, these tasks draw on the concepts, skills, and processes used to create and understand visual images from a variety of world cultures and…

This report describes three model demonstration projects in Ohio school districts which focused on strategies for identifying students gifted in visual and performing arts and delivering hands-on arts education and appreciation experiences. Presented for each program is information on: identifying characteristics (district, location, school…

The importance of art education in Missouri's schools is documented. This guide is based on the premise that studying art stimulates and fosters creativity, and cognitive skills as well as enhances cultural awareness and communication. Enrollment, time allotments, and credit requirements are outlined for art education at all levels. For each grade…

Originally designed for use in combination with a museum visit to the Islamic Arts of the Book from the Vever Collection exhibition at the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery of the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., the document presents a teaching package about Islamic art during the late 16th-early 17th century. Themes in Islamic art addressed…

This document presents a teaching package designed to introduce students in grades one through five to Chinese painting methods and equipment. Prepared in conjunction with an exhibition of paintings by child prodigy Wang Yani titled "The Brush of Innocence," the package consists of a teacher's activity plan unit, a slide set of art works…

Common themes of human relationships that emerge when one examines legal ethics education and the visual arts are the foci of this paper which examines parallel developments in community attitudes and sociological and psychological forces during different historical periods. Comparisons of the ideological evolution of the fine arts and legal…

This report presents a compilation of national statistics on the not-for-profit and commercial arts fields and is intended to serve as a reference book for arts statistics. The focus is on nationally representative data collected through research efforts and donations of statistical information by arts related organizations. The statistics are…

Multicultural study, visual and language arts, social studies, and geometry are integrated into this 2-month unit for the elementary classroom. The unit is divided into 3 segments, centering around the creation of a class icosahedron in which each of the shape's 20 faces represents 1 class member. Actual construction of the icosahedron constitutes…