Unlike the existing industrial or knowledge-based societies, our society today demands individuals whom are not only confined to applying acquired knowledge but also well-rounded in terms of intelligence, critical thinking ability, creativity, and per...
Unlike the existing industrial or knowledge-based societies, our society today demands individuals whom are not only confined to applying acquired knowledge but also well-rounded in terms of intelligence, critical thinking ability, creativity, and personality. In order to cope with such demand, an integrated education system, which relates different subjects, is being emphasized.
The purpose of this study was to suggest an integrated art education curriculum which will develop one’s creativity and promote overall development, through play and experience in art.
The summary of this study’s contents and methods is the following.
First, the purpose and necessity of integrative education of art and other subjects were examined by analyzing the theoretical background of integrative education, both domestic and international examples of integrative education in practice, and the focus of the revised curriculum of 2009.
Second, by acknowledging the fact that play and experience in art open up children’s futures and possibilities, the meaning of expressing freely and exploring oneself were considered.
Third, an integrative art education program, based on plays and art, was developed, and then put into practice at a school. After the class, students participated in a survey which asked their level of interest in the class and their level of satisfaction. The results were analyzed.
With the topic of prehistoric petroglyphs, which are drawings or cravings on rocks by prehistoric people, The H.A.P.E (History, Art, Play, and Experience) Integrative Art Education program, based play and art, promoted students to voluntarily and actively participate in class. By allowing students to learn with their body through physical experiences and activities, the program, as opposed to a typical teacher-centered education method, arouses the students’ interest and thus increased their level of concentration. Also, students’ interest in and understanding of Korean history and culture increased by integrating history, a subject which students generally do not prefer because its nature of studying method is memorization, with art, a voluntarily active subject, through integrative education of art and history, students studied the aesthetic and historical value altogether, and both subjects gained positive increased effect in learning. Moreover, based on the connection among art, plays, and literature, the program provided students with opportunities to explore themselves by letting them express their inner side through both verbal and non-verbal expressions. The program had a positive effect on the developing self-esteem and it was even linked to their career.
In contrast to art classes which focused on the technical skills, the program focused on simple and free expression method, such as the prehistoric rock carvings, thus allowing any student to easily challenge and complete. Also, by providing students the opportunity to explore and express themselves through engaging in creative activities, their drawings were brought to life by allowing them to portray their own lives and stories. Afterwards, in a survey, the students showed positive responses to every aspect of the class and the program, and it could be confirmed that the integrative education of art and another subject was effective.
By combining the experience of play and art with the idea of linking subjects, this elementary school integrative art education program, suggested by this study, not only improved students’ overall thinking skills by allowing flexible thinking, but also made them excited and satisfied from expressing oneself by displaying one’s individuality and creativity freely. This process showed the possibility to develop one’s creativity and personality through developing artistic insight, creativity, confidence, cooperation skills, and socializing skills.
Some recognize play and art as unproductive activities. However, the study suggests that play and art have a positive influence on the development of child. From this point, we have to recognize how much valuable artistic experience is to a child, and provide enough time for the child to have various experience. We should understand our life in an artistic perspective. Moreover, by providing a "living" art education program, which allows students to both express themselves freely and understand life though art, we should promote students to develop as a well-rounded individual. From now on, through research and development of integrative educational programs, we should focus on developing human resources our society needs.