Examines studies, especially those of Viktor Lowenfeld, which suggest that coloring books are harmful to the creative expression of children. Proposes an alternative hypothesis that views coloring books as useful teaching tools to help children understand and appreciate art. Calls for further research into the issue. (KM)

Discussion of the use of interactive video to address issues of culture and gender in multicultural art classrooms focuses on an adaptation of "The Vincent Van Gogh Laserguide" at California State University-Los Angeles to teach students how to talk about and analyze works of art. (LRW)

Presents a developmental view of the creative process based on Montessori principles. Discusses the preschool child's need for activity, exploration at an individual pace, and connection between the self and the universe. Considers ways to nurture a child's self-actualizing creativity. (JPB)

Describes The Lab School's (in Washington D.C.) use of the arts to provide nontraditional learners with new routes to learning. States that the arts give these special children a chance to express their creativity, feel good about themselves, and learn skills they cannot learn traditionally. Looks at art as salvation, diagnostic tool, and teacher.…

Neuroscience is a subject that can motivate, excite, and stimulate the curiosity of everyone However, the study of the brain is made difficult by an abundance of new vocabulary words and abstract concepts. Although neuroscience has the potential to inspire students, many teachers find it difficult to include a study of the brain in their…

Requiring basic sequential arts education for all K-12 students is the primary recommendation of this report, which was written to fulfill a congressional mandate to determine the current state of U.S. arts education programs. Based primarily on two surveys, "Arts, Education, and the States," and "Public School District Policies and…

Describes the advantages of using household food ingredients for art and science activities. Also discusses experiences with foods that are appropriate and inappropriate. (AS)

Reviews theories on cognition and perception as they relate to language and the arts and presents research supporting an arts-centered curriculum as beneficial to language and reading development. (FL)

Suggests that asking children to color within the lines does not stifle their creativity but is similar to expecting children to stand in line for the bus or write neatly. Proposes that expecting students to color within the lines is establishing a basis of knowledge and control from which they can eventually explore more creative avenues of…

Reexamines basic aspects of creativity enumerated by Viktor Lowenfeld and shows how goals of art education have varied with time and social needs. Argues that interdisciplinary approach to learning, which involves seeing connections and realizing that all knowledge is one and whole, is what education is all about. Concludes that such approach was…

Four articles discuss computer-assisted instruction, including (1) a middle school art and computer departments project that used LOGO to create rose window designs; (2) student journals; (3) the application of Piaget constructivism and Vygotskin social interaction to LOGO learning; and (4) computer lab writing workshops for elementary school…

A work of art documents the artist's perceptions. The conundrum of how to communicate one's perceptions effectively is the foundation of art. Making art in the classroom involves dialogs between artists and themselves, and artists and their audience. An entire class collaborating on a work augments the learning experience. Instructions are given…

Argues that integrating the arts in culture and literacy can help children become proficient users of language and be accepting and empathetic toward others, as advocated in standard nine of the "Standards for the English Language Arts." Describes two ways the author integrated the arts into a language arts unit on Japan, dealing with…

At the same time that schools are closing in many communities because of declining enrollments, the arts are expanding at the community level. The problem of surplus school space can be the solution to the needs of many artists and arts groups. Mutual to the arts groups and the communities are the benefits of flexible arrangements and the presence…

Eighteen scholars, representing classroom teachers, museum educators, and higher education faculty were invited to prepare papers on the topic of aesthetics and art criticism in the classroom. The papers included are: "Signs Visual and Verbal" (Mary Wiseman); "Role-playing the Aesthetician in Art Education" (Robert Russell); "Is Teaching…