This anthology focuses on the earliest art expressions, experiences and encounters of young children in the educational setting. The 21 chapters include: (1) "The Visual Arts and Early Childhood Learning: Changing Contexts and Concepts" (Christine Marme Thompson); (2) "The Narrative Quality of Young Children's Art" (Marilyn Zurmuehlen; Larry…

The Proceedings Journal contains 13 articles presented at the American Educational Research Association annual meeting as part of the Arts and Learning Special Interest Group program. Individual articles and their authors are: "A Descriptive and Analytical Study of Art Criticism Formats with Implications for Curricular Implementation" by…

Utilizes the statistical procedure of meta-analysis in a quantitative review of art education research literature. Discovers that art education is more effective in producing results concerning aesthetic perception than visual-spatial ability. Discusses possible implications of the study and recommends further combination of quantitative and…

Maintains that, over the past two decades, postmodern theorists and critics fundamentally have challenged many of the basic tenets of aesthetics, education, and art criticism. Discusses how postmodernism questions long-held realist assumptions of nature, truth, beauty, and human nature. (CFR)

Maintains that computers have provided a creative device for image creation and enhancement for visual arts educators. Traces the development of educational technology in art education from the 1940s to the present. Describes a four-part "visualization center" that will be the center for art education programs in the future. (CFR)

The preschools operated by the municipality of Reggio Emilia in Emilia Romagna, Italy, have drawn the attention of early childhood educators worldwide. This paper describes five features of these preschools. First, the educational philosophy of the schools is influenced by the high value accorded to cooperation in nothern Italian culture; Bruner's…

To investigate allegations by Indian artists that their ethnic values/traditions are being omitted from art curricula in their Wisconsin community schools, the study conducted ethnographic observations and interviews in a reservation elementary public school, a public elementary and high school located just outside the reservation, and a…

The document discusses problems and issues related to development of behaviorally based curriculum in art education. A behaviorally based art curriculum is interpreted to include learning to see, feel, and understand art as well as learning to make art. Four major problem areas are identified: (1) the development of modules which implement…

Designed as a pilot program, a 5-day arts day-camp held at Illinois Valley Community College for 44 fifth and sixth graders during summer 1981 provided a model approach to interrelating the arts. A thematic structure allowed experiences in visual arts, dance, drama, and music with faculty who had multi-arts experience as well as specialization in…

This booklet outlines key competencies for art education in kindergarten through grade six in the Philadelphia school system. The goal of art education is to provide an understanding of elements and principles of composition and design such as color, line, shape, mass, and texture. Art education should involve students in creating, analyzing, and…

Major competencies are presented for art education courses in grades seven through 12 in the Philadelphia school system. The goal of art education is to promote an understanding of elements and principles of composition and design such as color, line, shape, mass, and texture. Art education should involve students in evaluating, creating, and…

An empirical study of the way children talk about art experiences is described and the meaning of this talk in terms of the cognition it represents is investigated. The criteria serving as the basis for creation of content analysis categories are subject matter, sensory elements, formal properties, technical competence, expressive elements,…

Explores the value of teaching art criticism and aesthetics to young children. Maintains that critical aesthetic experience reinforces such experiences in art production. Outlines seven methods to develop aesthetic language and shows how art criticism and aesthetics can be used by visiting a gallery or museum. (KM)

Considers how multicultural art education should be approached in the classroom. Uses African art to help distinguish between appreciating art from different cultures and understanding cultural contexts. Discusses benefits and shortcomings of five multicultural approaches. Shows how the NAMES project (AIDS Memorial Quilt) could be used in the…

This issue of "Irish Educational Studies" focuses on curriculum and learning issues and includes: (1) "Aesthetic Perspectives in Curriculum Reform" (D. Murphy); (2) "Drama: Less Talk, More Action" (M. Drury); (3)" Out of Tune with Reality: Music and the School in Ireland" (M. O'Suilleabhain); (4)…