Investigates relationships between drawing skills of children ages four to eight and their ability to identify materials. Regression of measures of aesthetic drawing, developmental drawing, design making, symbol creation, and developed schemata found a positive correlation between total drawing scores and material identification scores; age…

Argues that researchers must adopt different personas when looking for research support and when researching: one demands business skills, the other requires interpersonal skills. Discusses issues associated with identifying and securing grant money, and aspects of doing qualitative research. Suggests future problems of compatibility between…

Points out shortcomings of instructional methods derived from art criticism, viewed either as a set of procedures for critiquing artwork or as metacognitive principles for reflective thinking about artwork. Proposes a model of critical-inquiry instruction based upon three instructional activities: personal response, student research, and concept…

Reports the effects of art-history instruction on students' abilities to interpret artwork contextually. Confirms that eighth-grade students are more successful in contextual interpretation; students at both levels can use successfully the historical artist perspective; and art-history instruction at both levels increases students' ability to…

Describes a strategy for heightening university students' awareness within aesthetic encounters. The purpose of these "aesthetigrams" is to improve teaching and learning of aesthetics-in-the-classroom. Discusses research goals, and addresses the possibility of defining "aesthetic experience" based on student records of their encounters. (DSK)

Compares the effectiveness of two types of instructional aids, interactive multimedia and slide studies, for art-history students. Reveals that multimedia users searched more extensively for information, demonstrated more understandings and misunderstandings, and experienced carryover effects between experiments. Indicates that interactive…

Categorizes beliefs toward art education that prospective teachers bring to certification programs and how these beliefs change. Using "Eisner Art Education Belief Index" survey data, discovers four main themes that emphasize the importance of interaction between beliefs of preservice teachers and subject matter in creating values prospective…

Applaudes National Art Education Association research efforts, but suggests that a major weakness in the program, and in art education in general, is the lack of a distinct philosophy of art education. Criticizes art-education researchers' over-reliance on theoretical authorities from outside of the field and neglect of their own experiences. (DSK)

Suggests that the growing interest in integrating the arts across the curriculum requires a change in the concept of cognition in the arts that is currently dominant, the "symbol systems" approach. Describes the "symbol systems" approach, its strengths, and its weaknesses. Suggests ways that art educators must change their views. (DSK)

Explores the nature of images created by Paleolithic artists and autistic artists in regard to drawing techniques and image function. Explains the commonalities based on a discussion of the role of the early vision process and the construction of meaning. Notes the importance of this research for understanding autistic artists. (DSK)

Examines the development of thematic and observational drawings among third and seventh graders, with some receiving formal instructions whereas others did not. Finds that formal instruction did not significantly affect students' drawing achievement, but does find a trend toward decreasing female achievement with age. Makes observations for art…

Examines the relationship between culture and the development of attitudes and beliefs about art and art-related skills in a cross-cultural perspective. Demonstrates how the notion of excellence in drawing is constructed through a specific cultural context. Considers the implications to pedagogy of visual representation, especially in the context…

Argues that in an art world dominated by critical theory the contribution of painting to society and education is not firmly established. Reviews challenges from critical theory to painting and constructs an alternative relationship between them. Articulates how concepts in critical theory are informed and extended by painting. (DSK)

Examines the implementation process of Education and the Arts (1985), a major Australian federal arts education policy, using the Synthesis Model of Implementation Process. Finds that overall the Education and the Arts (1985) policy was unsuccessful in achieving its desired outcomes. Discusses the results. (CMK)

Examines the effectiveness of the analysis-synthesis and generator-conjuncture-analysis models of design education. Concludes that the generator-conjecture-analysis design method produced student design product of a slightly higher standard than the analysis-synthesis design method. Discusses the findings in more detail and considers implications.…