This seminar provides an opportunity to critically examine topics and issues within various arts learning contexts. The course is designed to provide students with a primer to practices and scholarship of the intersections between the arts and education. The course is grounded in types of learning that occur in a range of institutional and organizational settings that include schools, colleges and universities, museums as well as non-profit sector community-based organizations. The seminar explores the role of art and design in individuals' lives from the perspective of the past and present as well as contemporary shifts that suggest a re-examination of focus and pedagogical approach. The course draws extensively from key documents from the arts learning literature as well as the expertise of scholars and practitioners who will join the course throughout the semester to share with students perspectives that illustrate both common ground and a diversity of thinking surrounding some of the more pressing topics and problems within the guests' respective professional fields. Throughout the course, students are required to provide annotations of journal articles, present reaction papers, make presentations on designated topics, and at completion of the course present a proposal for a potential thesis monograph essay or thesis book.

Enrollment in this course is limited to Teaching + Learning in Art + Design Students.

Major Requirement | MA Teaching + Learning in Art + Design

The most compelling arguments in support of the value of the arts in education and the case for arts as an agent of transformation in the lives of children and youth become most evident through the analysis of high-quality contemporary practices in arts pedagogy situated in a range of settings both in and out of schools. This seminar, in addition to students' personal case study investigations, utilizes conversations with visiting arts administrators, artists, curators, educators, and scholars as lenses to inform the analysis and discussion of models of practice that result in meaningful experience that inspire in children and youth creative thinking, making, and innovation. Key products from the course include response papers, a case study report and final presentation.

Preference is given to Teaching + Learning in Art + Design Students.

Major Requirement | MA Teaching + Learning in Art + Design

The Department of Teaching + Learning in Art + Design requires MA candidates submit a capstone thesis in partial fulfillment of degree requirements. Candidates are given a degree of flexibility in determining the format for this work, but typically it takes the form of either a thesis monograph essay or a thesis book. The thesis monograph essay provides candidates with the opportunity to focus on a deep investigation of a single subject framed within the context of learning and through art and design. An essential characteristic of this approach to the thesis is in how it provides evidence of the candidate's ability to move beyond description to analysis and how they are able to place the subject of investigation within the realm of scholarship. The thesis book provides a candidate with the opportunity to make sense of their journey through their program in a more autobiographical and documentary manner. The thesis book format affords candidates the opportunity to explore how form can be exploited to visualize research. Whether presented as a thesis monograph essay or thesis book, this capstone requirement provides MA candidates with a formal opportunity to make public their understanding about a specific aspect of the nature of arts learning gained through their coursework, excursions into the scholarly literature and fieldwork experiences. The purpose here, therefore, is to conceive of the thesis not merely as an academic exercise but also contributing to program development as well as providing a reservoir of understandings that will inform the candidate's future professional practice as an educator.

Enrollment is limited to Teaching + Learning in Art + Design Students.

Major Requirement | MA Teaching + Learning in Art + Design

This course provides students from any major with the opportunity to explore issues in art and design teaching. As a broad overview, this course will address formal and informal art teaching in K-12 school-based settings, as well as in art museums, and community-based settings. Students will be introduced to ideas about teaching and learning art through a wide variety of experiences, such as observations in diverse art education settings, guest speakers, as well as opportunities interacting with (and teaching!) children and/or adolescents. This course will include seminar sessions, as well as site visits to local schools, museums, and community-based organizations. The content and experiences offered during this class hope to inspire and excite students about the possibilities of utilizing their studio practice as art & design teachers or teaching artists in museum or community-based settings. The course will have particular value to students perhaps considering continuing their studies at RISD beyond undergrad to pursue either a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) or Master of Arts (MA) in Art + Design Education. This course is designed to introduce students to contemporary issues and practices in art education through a variety of spaces. The course content will be divided approximately into three distinct explorations: art and design teaching at the K-12 schools, art museum education, and community-based art teaching. During each exploration, students will be asked to reflect on their own personal experiences with art learning, as well as engage with readings that explore contemporary perspectives on art education. Additionally, each exploration will be enhanced with opportunities for students to experience authentic art education spaces (either digitally or in person) to see how theory can connect with practice. The course culminates in a capstone experience in which students, collaborating in small groups, will lead a short studio-based experience for children or adolescents. This experience will be conducted in partnership with a local education organization such as a school, community arts center or RISD's Project Open Door. Throughout this class, students will be offered a variety of opportunities to connect art education theory and practice, as well as reflect on their own experiences with art learning and teaching.

Elective