Addressing the non-artist's approach to art: a study of pre-service teachers in an art methods course

• Main Author: Carr, Tiffany Ann
• Other Authors: Williams, Rachel Marie-Crane, 1972-
• Format: Others
• Language: English
• Published: University of Iowa 2015
• Subjects: publicabstract; art methods; elementary art; non-artist; play-based; pre-service; psychogeography; Teacher Education and Professional Development
• Online Access: https://ir.uiowa.edu/etd/1834; https://ir.uiowa.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=5891&context=etd

This is a qualitative, mixed-methods study that focuses on the experiences of pre-service teachers in an art methods for non-majors class. The purpose of this study is to describe the process of transforming pre-service elementary teachers’ apprehensive feelings and experiences about creating art. An examination of play, Thirdspace pedagogy, and contextual exploration within a humanistic approach all inform this study. The dataset exposed themes of apprehension and reluctance to art-making, community building, preconceptions about art and art-making, exploration, non-prescribed outcomes, learning from mistakes, and identity. The results of this study show evidence that explorative methods can alter the conceptions and approaches to art of pre-service teachers in an art methods for non-majors course. As a researcher, it is my hope that this study will impact art educators’ views of teaching art methods courses to non-majors.