Starting with Visual Journal: An Action Research of Teaching Visual Arts in a Grade Two Classroom in an Urban Elementary School

• Main Authors: Hsiu-Chih Shu, 許秀枝
• Other Authors: Bor-Jou Kuo
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2014
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/8682k9

碩士 === 國立臺北教育大學 === 課程與教學研究所 === 102 === Starting with Visual Journal: An Action Research of Teaching Visual Arts in a Grade Two classroom in an Urban Elementary School. This action research aims to explore ways of implementing concepts of concrete experience, reflective observation, abstract conceptualization, and active experimentation into the creative process of visual arts learning. It encourages students to reflect upon their arts learning process, using visual journal as the art medium to express, communicate, and document students’ learning experiences. Through action research, I gathered filed observation and documented learning outcomes from my own Grade Two classroom in an elementary school. I also collaborated with three colleagues to form a professional network; we constantly discussed and reflected on our teaching practice, using students’ learning outcomes to refine our teaching. Major research findings include: 1) using textual and practical forms of experiential learning help foster students’ creativity; 2) increasing opportunities of student conversation in the curriculum to develop students’ ability of multiple learning; 3) learning through group collaboration and discussion, students help students learn creation and problem-solving skills; 4) professional development enables teachers to improve their teaching practices. Recommendations from this research are suggested for teachers and school administrators. For teachers who intend to teaching visual arts in elementary schools, I suggest: 1) recognizing teaching and artistic creation both are on-going and redefining learning processes; 2) using teacher-designed lessons or projects enables better student engagement and learning outcomes; 3) collaborating with other teachers helps the improvement and the refinement of curricula. For school administrators, I suggest: 1) providing opportunities to display student artwork in the school; 2) supporting the development of professional learning networks in schools and the needed equipment for teaching; 4) organizing and hosting teacher professional workshops in the areas of experiential learning and visual journal.