Children in all cultures readily engage in artistic activities, yet the arts (dance, drama, drawing, and music) have traditionally been marginal topics in the discipline of developmental science. We argue that developmental psychologists cannot afford to ignore such naturalistic activities that involve so many basic phenomena--attention,…

This article assists art educators, especially preservice teachers, in increasing their understanding of the symptomology and behaviors of students on the autism spectrum that may limit artmaking. Here, the author examines specific behaviors and symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), from both a psychological and developmental perspective.…

Research has shown that participation in the arts at school and in the classroom has many academic and personal well-being benefits. Here we outline some of the key effects of arts participation, with particular focus on one of its psychological yields: "flow." We then define flow and describe its nine ingredients with particular…

The need to improvise and take action as a practitioner draws on Schwab's notion of deliberation and the Greek concept of poiesis. Inspired by an impromptu discussion with students at a computer summer camp, the author uses the works of Sarason, Eisner, and Stenhouse to show how practitioner performance, student audience, educational inquiry,…

New knowledge on cognition and learning generated in the various fields of neuroscience is now being incorporated into the learning sciences. This development might have broad significance for the theoretical development of the field of education, in particular leading to a renewed and more nuanced understanding of learning as an embodied process.…

School-based yoga programmes have been implemented in schools across the United States with promising results. However, the majority of research on yoga programmes has occurred within the K-12 setting. Much less is known about the benefits of yoga with young children. The current body of research on yoga and young children has been quantitative…

By transforming education to focus on nurturing creativity, teachers can better ensure that their students are receiving the best preparation for a future of rapid change. This article describes how Alla Tkachuk founded MASK (Mobile Art School in Kenya, www.mobileartschoolinkenya.org) to champion art for creativity in Africa. Starting as a small…

Although prevalently focused on research-based outcomes (i.e. better understanding of a particular phenomenon, process or experience), arts-based researchers have widely emphasised the transformational potentialities of arts for individuals. In particular, the arts create space for thinking differently and provide opportunities to explore…

Four young Australian children participated in research in which they shared their photographs and narratives of art experiences in their homes, early childhood centre and school. Drawing on Dewey's theories on art as experience, this article analyses some of the ways these 4- and 5-year-old children enjoyed satisfying art experiences, primarily…

This experimental study was undertaken with preservice teachers to test whether the use of science integration into arts education increases demonstration of science details and creative features in artwork. Two conditions were created: arts-focused and science-focused; gouache still-life paintings were produced and analyzed, and an attitude…

Although not new, participatory art practices are finding their way into art education theory; however, practices have yet to take hold in schools or teacher practicum. In this qualitative study, four teacher candidates' efforts to implement two socially engaged art projects in a middle school are examined to better understand how participatory…

Before high school students step outside of the classroom and bring their work into the world, educators can help them understand that art is not solely for self-expression and beauty. Art and design can enable a voice to be heard, address social issues, engage the public, and evoke critical thought. This instructional resource introduces four…

This proposition concerning "just-in-time" teaching was initiated in the field where the practices of two student-teachers have inspired ongoing and continued study into community art education as a site of creative and innovative teaching and learning that contributes to forms of public pedagogy. Informed by the year-long practicum…

Almost every educational system in the world regards numeracy and literacy as more important than the arts. In the UK arts interest groups and politicians have, for years, asked for arts education to be accorded the same priority arguing that arts contribute to learning and development of useful skills. It is not clear if these claims were based…

This article reports on a co-produced project based in South Africa which aimed to support the development of youth committees in Safe Parks operating across Ekurhuleni municipality, by building young people's capacity to claim greater voice within their communities through participatory arts practices. Drawing on recent perspectives in the field…