Professional Masters in Education
Emma Behan
To what extent can modelling art practice support students to become more confident and create a classroom environment that supports risk-taking?
This research project was conducted to investigate curriculum development and pedagogical practices for the art curriculum in Ireland, this study focused on the artist teacher modelling artistic practices using sketchbooks to support concept development, critical thinking, and practical skills. Reports show high stress levels among students in senior cycle due to the pressures of exams (Smyth, McCoy and Banks, 2019). Adapting teaching methods and implementing a student-centred approach in hopes to create a more comfortable atmosphere for students to feel confident and vulnerable within their experience was examined. The implementation of a growth mind-set allows people to appreciate the tasks they do regardless if they fail or succeed, they value their efforts and learn from the experience (Dweck, 2016). Using various data collection methods such as questionnaires, focus groups and keeping an unstructured observation notebook during this process, the researcher inquired about the impact of implementing pedagogical strategies into the classroom to inspire students, enhance engagement, skills, and the learning experience.
Theoretically the research was informed by constructivism; this theory depicts students learning from constructing their own knowledge as opposed to passive learning (McLeod, 2024). Therefore, students develop their own representations through experiences in which they are actively learning, problem solving, reflecting and open to other perspectives. By involving and engaging students in active learning and having real life experiences students are more likely to use inquiry and curiosity while enjoying the learning process (Penny, 2014). This makes the learning experience more meaningful for students.