This Colorado state visual arts content standards guide is based on the idea that visual arts education benefits the student because it cultivates the whole person, gradually building many kinds of literacy while developing intuition, reasoning, imagination, and dexterity into unique forms of expression and communication. Students develop an…

This paper describes a process used to create or revise a gifted education program and a model gifted education program for elementary schools that includes methods of identification and ideas for programming. The following steps are outlined for creating or revising a gifted education program: (1) read relevant textbooks to get a feel for gifted…

Democracy is more than a creed or a doctrine. It must be a continuing force in the daily thinking, working, and living of all our citizens. American schools and colleges can strengthen democracy by practicing it--by showing concretely the basic advantages it offers to human beings. It is in the homes and in the schools, in home towns and local…

Study looks at the problem of creativity test selection by examining the relationships between 15 divergent and non-divergent tests. (Authors)

Pupils in an open plan (as opposed to traditional) school were found to have more positive attitudes toward school and themselves and scored higher on some measures of productivity; on measures of curiosity there were no differences. (Editor)

Examines the substance of creativity and the process of developing staff creative expression so that both student and teacher can learn more about their individual creativity. (RK)

An investigation of the relationship of hemispheric dominance (dichotic listening) and divergent thinking (Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking) with 27 preschool children indicates that divergent thinking is associated with right hemispheric dominance in children as young as four years. (Author/PN)

Preschool children received either play tutoring or skills tutoring in an attempt to determine (1) whether play tutoring increases children's verbal intelligence and creativity and (2) which factor--play or adult contact--is responsible for gains from play tutoring. Adult contact was found to be the chief reason for cognitive gains. (Author/PP)

Playgrounds should be diverse and flexible so that children have many different opportunities for natural, creative play. Equipment should encourage group activities, challenge children at different levels of development, and enhance physical fitness. Such playgrounds could receive enthusiastic public support. (PP)

Presents an example of what can happen when a teacher is deprived of all decision-making powers with respect to her job, and is required to adhere blindly to restrictions of prescribed programs imposed from outside. Denial of autonomy leads to decline in the teacher's interest and a consequent loss to students. (Author)

In a three-year cumulative study, more than 1,000 children were observed either in randomly arranged preschool classrooms or in classrooms deliberately arranged to promote learning. Creativity, oral language use, and development of science and number concepts were significantly higher for children in the specially planned classrooms. (Author/SJL)

This study extends previous work in the use of descriptive reinforcement procedures to increase productivity of new forms in artwork. Subjects were four kindergarteners who demonstrated an absence of diverse forms in their paintings. Results indicated that form diversity was improved and that the improvement lasted over time. (SJL)

At present, art-educational research seems locked into a number of unexamined assumptions--largely derived from European Romantic ideology--about artistic productiveness as a desirable psychological trait. We need to know more about other cultural patterns of artistic behavior and the historic and social factors that influence them. (Author/SJL)

Strategies to develop creativity were given to high school teachers in a graduate course, Developing Creativity in Teaching. Higher degrees of creativity emerged when the groups used the instructor's clues to write a story and when group brainstorming and writing, as opposed to individual writing, were done. (Author/SJL)