Review of research in visual arts education

Description based on: No. 8 (spring 1978)

Art teachers' attitudes toward the Florida Sunshine State Standards for the Visual Arts

The State of Florida developed the Sunshine State Standards For the Arts Curriculum Framework as part of an initiative to raise student achievement in response to national calls for educational reform. The content-based art education approach used in the Sunshine State Standards reflects a viewpoint advocated by prominent art educators and professional art education organizations for more than two decades. Successful implementation of the Sunshine State Standards curriculum approach requires that art teachers be acquainted with and knowledgeable in the four foundational content areas of the arts: studio art, art history, art criticism, and aesthetics. ^ The purpose of this study was to examine art teachers' viewpoints and attitudes toward the content-based art education approach contained in the Florida Curriculum Framework Sunshine State Standards for the Visual Arts. A survey was conducted in order to obtain these viewpoints. Surveys were sent to 440 Miami-Dade County Public School art teachers. A total of 138 elementary, middle and senior high school level art teachers participated in the study. ^ Factors and variables explored in this study included teachers' level of education, type of community, and grade levels taught. The principal methods of analyses employed in the study were descriptive statistics used to display frequencies and percentages. In addition, cross tabulations with Chi-square tests, and Mann-Whitney U tests were used to examine responses to the survey items. ^ The results of the study revealed that the majority of art teachers supported the content-based art education approach used in the Sunshine State Standards for the Arts. However significant differences appeared in the responses to survey items as a result of art teachers' level of education, type of community, and grade levels. The results of this study indicate a need for further examination of teacher training and professional development programs. ^

The 1992 BFA Graduating Class, Department of Visual Arts

Before writing this introductory piece, I spent some time viewing the Fourth Year Student Exhibition. It was a time-out in a busy adminstrative morning,and an important occasion for reflecting upon the visual arts program at Sir wilfred Grenfell College. The works in the gallery, some of which are reproduced on the following pages, are as varied as the individuals who made them. Yet the paintings, prints,sculptures and photographs provides a glimpse into the richness of the experienceof the past years for these students. The mix of techniques, colors, images and line suggest the breadth of experience and knowledge shared with these students by their professors. The Quality and force of the works signal the future contributions these graduates will make to our society and culture.

The 1993 BFA Graduating Class Department of Visual Arts

The Graduate students in the Visual Arts program have selected for inclusion in this cataloguepieces that symbolize the Acomplishments of the years of study and application. The images are the summary of a complex of learning experiences, both theoretical and applied. They reflect the critical processes of the studio, the Library, the environment and the traditional classroom; they are the results of dynamic and rigorous interaction between teachers and colleagues, peers and mentors, throughout this undergraduate experience.

The 1994 BFA Graduating Class Departmrnt of Visual Arts

I find it hard to believe that already we are graduating our third group of students. It seem like our department was founded only a few months ago. Time Flies! Over the years I've come to respect the energy,Principles, commitment, talent and diversity of my colleagues in visual arts. I have never worked with such an outstanding group of people, and I firmly believe we deliver a University experience second to none. Having said that, I also believe our success would be diminished were it not for the fact that we have had the priviledge of working with students who were equally outstanding. Newfoundlanders can be justly proud of the Sir wilfred Grenfell College graduates from the many communities throughout the province who will represent Newfoundland and Labrador admirably on regional, national and international levels in years to come. This years catalogue records part of the many accomplishments of the class of 1994. Once again it is evident that discovering, nuturing and developing individual expression yields artwork of substance and consequence. It also confirms our belief that students should independent, resourceful and creative problem-solvers with a firm belief in their own view-points and the wherewithall to express those viewpoints through personal visual expression.