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An examination of two approaches to ceramic instruction in elementary education

A review of art education literature indicated that: (1) strategies in general art education have shifted from a child-centered, creative self-expression approach in the 1950s and 1960s to a more content-based approach in the 1980s; (2) ceramic instruction should include art history and art criticism; and (3) research had not yet included investigations of a content-based teaching mode in ceramic education. This study compared the effects of selected aspects of a newer content-based approach with a traditional creative self-expression approach in ceramic education. / On a pretest posttest basis, fifth graders in an experimental group (n = 16) and in a control group (n = 15) were tested on three independent variables: self-concept, attitude toward art and knowledge of art. Groups were equated on technical forming information. The experimental group viewed four sculptural slides and four slides of ceramic vessels. In two one-hour periods, a fifteen minute discussion of artistic style and compositional characteristics was followed by the making of a modeled human figure and a ceramic vessel. The control group motivation was based on the activation of passive knowledge. During a reflective period, both groups summarized treatments and discussed ceramic pieces. Five judges rated a fourth independent variable, the aesthetic quality of students' ceramic products, via the Gestalt Holistic Assessment. / A t-Test for independent and dependent samples and an ANOVA revealed no significant differences between groups, within groups or by sex on selected variables. Conclusions indicate that content-based historical and critical information: (1) does not inhibit ceramic instruction; (2) does not necessarily affect the overall quality of ceramic products; and (3) may have no more or less affect on student self-concept, attitude and knowledge than general technical instruction in ceramic education. A non-statistical related observation indicated that students who received content-based historical and critical information produced a wider variety of compositional characteristics in ceramic vessels and more often used a vertical stance and a formal base in the modeled human figure. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 50-04, Section: A, page: 0856. / Major Professor: Charles M. Dorn. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1989.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_77995
ContributorsBrewer, Thomas Myers., Florida State University
Source SetsFlorida State University
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeText
Format227 p.
RightsOn campus use only.
RelationDissertation Abstracts International

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