I have two ideas going on with my research topic. Slowly learning toward one however:
Question One: How are art teachers evaluated? What data is used to evaluate? Is it data that is connected to the standards the art teacher is charged with teaching?
I currently will be evaluated (50.3%) based on the performance of all my students of written tests:
-9th and 10th graders (all of which take FCAT), reading and math scores
-11th and 12th graders, on a written district made test based on concepts stemming from principles and elements of design.
How can art teachers be evaluated based on student performance that is directly connected to the state standards in the visual arts? The policy makers want a computer, multiple-choice test, approx 40 questions long. Can a fair and accurate measure be taken from such a test?
Why do I want to do this research? I understand the need for accountability. I understand the need for data gathered in a readable form. I also understand the need for a fair evaluation system for art teachers. FCAT data is not the answer. I have attached a preliminary research map I have started.
Question Two: How does art teaching styles affect student artwork? Based on Art Rooms and Art Teaching (Hickman, 2001), I studied four art teachers, their styles, and samples of their student artwork. I am interested in how each of us affect our students artwork...are we really creating environments for self-expression? I posted my research map for this topic in a previous post (before I read the instructions to the blog).
Comment from Sandra:
Question two is very intriguing and I imagine you could travel about comparing the rural school and the urban school, around your city or immediate region, to observe how different issues (and stresses) affect the teaching(styles) and the students art work. The stresses teachers feel under a standards driven and data heavy/accountability climate I imagine, comes into play. I too am interested in environment in cultivating creativity. I like this Question Two because it speaks to a broad and universal issue in the education of American students. Perhaps you can study alternative schools as well. It is intriguing! Thanks,Sandra
Andrea,
ReplyDeleteI think you could complete a capstone or thesis about either of these options. If you decide to go with #1, perhaps you could look at models other states are using. I have some contacts who have been doing this type of research.
If you go with your second idea, there is a high school art teacher that has done research about art teacher classrooms and environments for creativity that just presented a keynote at our state conference. I have his presentation recorded and can share it with you if you are interested.
Finally - start posing your actual research questions. If you had to generate a question that captures the first idea, what would it be? Same for the second idea? Think small - what is both feasible and interesting?