Adventuring through art and the outdoor : exploring an arts-based approach to environmental education in the context of a school-ground setting / Karen Webster.
By: Webster, Karen [author.].
Material type:
BookSeries: MA - Art & Design Education.Publisher: Cork : Crawford College of Art & Design, 2016Description: viii, 180 pages : color illustrations ; 30 cm.Content type: text Media type: unmediated Carrier type: volumeSubject(s): Art -- Study and teaching (Early childhood) -- Activity programs | Environmental education
| Outdoor education | Adventure educationDDC classification: CCAD LIBRARY OFFICE Dissertation note: Thesis (MA) - Cork Institute of Technology, Crawford College of Art & Design, 2016. Summary: Although there is a growing awareness of the importance of environmental education, the development of an approach that is relevant and engaging for children is still evolving. The purpose of this research was to investigate, from the point of view of the children taking part and their class teacher, what occurs when environmental education is approached from an arts-based perspective and whether art has a role to play in supporting an awareness of and an engagement with the natural environment. The participants were a class of nine to ten year olds attending a rural primary school. The children took part in an arts-based environmental education programme designed by the researcher, in an 'outdoor classroom' in the school grounds. The bulk of the data was collected by interview using a semi-structured interview schedule. It was analysed using IPA methodology. The study found that an arts-based approach to environmental education engaged the children effectively in their learning. High levels of motivation were observed. Most notably the opportunity to interact imaginatively with the environment through art appeared to promote interest, focussed attention and created memorable learning opportunities. The potential for interdisciplinary learning and the engagement of children who find classroom based learning challenging were also highlighted, although this calls for further investigation. The findings also identified a need for research to be conducted into the effect an arts-based approach may have on children's attitudes and behaviours towards the natural environment in the long-term. - (Author's abstract)
| Item type | Current library | Call number | Copy number | Status | Date due | Barcode | Item holds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reference | MTU Crawford College of Art and Design Library Thesis | CCAD LIBRARY OFFICE (Browse shelf(Opens below)) | 1 | Reference | 00179822 |
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Thesis (MA) - Cork Institute of Technology, Crawford College of Art & Design, 2016.
Bibliography: p. 136-147.
Although there is a growing awareness of the importance of environmental education, the development of an approach that is relevant and engaging for children is still evolving. The purpose of this research was to investigate, from the point of view of the children taking part and their class teacher, what occurs when environmental education is approached from an arts-based perspective and whether art has a role to play in supporting an awareness of and an engagement with the natural environment. The participants were a class of nine to ten year olds attending a rural primary school. The children took part in an arts-based environmental education programme designed by the researcher, in an 'outdoor classroom' in the school grounds. The bulk of the data was collected by interview using a semi-structured interview schedule. It was analysed using IPA methodology. The study found that an arts-based approach to environmental education engaged the children effectively in their learning. High levels of motivation were observed. Most notably the opportunity to interact imaginatively with the environment through art appeared to promote interest, focussed attention and created memorable learning opportunities. The potential for interdisciplinary learning and the engagement of children who find classroom based learning challenging were also highlighted, although this calls for further investigation. The findings also identified a need for research to be conducted into the effect an arts-based approach may have on children's attitudes and behaviours towards the natural environment in the long-term. - (Author's abstract)