A Summary of the Findings in Art and Music: Research Traditions and Implications for Teacher Education. Elementary Subjects Center Series No. 88.

Overview & Synopsis

This report focuses on the implications of eight Center for the Learning and Teaching of Elementary Subjects studies in elementary art and music education and synthesized existing research with respect to teacher education in art and music education. The first section provides a summary of the major findings in each of the Center studies in art and music conducted over a 5-year period. Of particular interest to researchers was the improvement of teaching these subjects to enhance students' depth of understanding and meaningful applications in everyday life. The second section presents a synthesis and comparative review of the research literature in art and music teacher education in light of these findings. The literature review addressed several perennial and contemporary issues in arts education at the elementary level. The interests and goals of art and music education were mapped onto the larger historical context of U.S. curriculum and the multiple, competing goals for education. Little attention has been given to how to teach these disciplinary areas beyond art production or musical performance and what kind of knowledge, experience, preparation, and support teachers need in order to implement such a reform in K-12 practice. The third section examines research trends and current interests in general teacher education. Concerns such as contextual constraints in teacher education reform, teachers' subject matter knowledge, conceptual orientations to teacher education programs, and change strategies are used as a template to identify similarities, omissions, and promising directions in research and program development for art and music teacher education. (DK)