Master of Education in Art & Design
Marie Flaherty
The research project construed a multimodal approach of an experience-gathering process in order for students to be able to interrogate real life issues through independent research and classroom based discussion. The modal laid out for the research project explicitly presented in depth art appreciation as a means to understanding how an artist can be a change agent and activist. The multimodal, student centred approach was made possible through a conducive learning environment and offered significant opportunities for students to engage with real life issues and be artist as activist as change agent.
The aim of the study was (i) to understand why an experience- gathering process is critical to the development of activist art (ii) and to identify the key elements of teaching and learning in a constructivist classroom that can promote and encourage reflective learning, active participation, and the ability to raise questions.
Through analyse of the evidence collected I identified methods of teaching and instruction that could support visual art research and practice. An exploration of a multi model approach in a constructivist classroom can support a learning experience that creates meaningful learning through an experience- gathering process.