Product Description
”Studio Thinking [is] a vision not only of learning in the arts but what could be learning most anywhere.” — From the Foreword by David N. Perkins, Professor of Education, Harvard Graduate School of Education, and Senior Co-Director of Harvard Project Zero
”Hetland and her colleagues reveal dozens of practical measures that could be adopted by any arts program, inside or outside of the school.This is a bold new step in arts education.” — David R. Olson,… More >>
Studio Thinking: The Real Benefits of Visual Arts Education
Tags: Arts, Benefits, Education, Real, Studio, Thinking, Visual
#1 by J. Ward on March 15, 2010 - 6:57 pm
This book is by one of my professors at the college I go to. The book is very dense but has excellent theory behind it. It explains, in depth, why an art education is so essential developmentally for students – and it does this by talking about what art itself teaches. People often try to talk about why “art is important because it’ll make people more creative in their english classes” or something similar – justifying it because the core subjects that are in the standardized tests may benefit from it. But this book speaks as to why an art education is important in and of itself, and what sorts of core objectives art teachers should have in mind when designing lessons and curriculum. I would recommend this book to any art educator.
Rating: 4 / 5
#2 by J. Dutta on March 15, 2010 - 9:44 pm
I am planning on posting a VIDEO review here very soon, to make my thinking on Lois’s amazing book visible to the world.
Please do think about getting this book if you are a teacher, artist, instructional leader/principal, policy maker or interested citizen who is interested in developing quality arts education…
Rating: 5 / 5
#3 by N. Quinn on March 16, 2010 - 12:18 am
Studio Thinking presents a clear image of what is necessary for building a “zone of proximal development” in an art classroom. The authors use information gleaned from actual observations and combine it with their knowledge of art education theory to provide a framework for excellent instruction and learning. It is easy to absorb and full of examples and anecdotes that engage the reader. This book has value for those just beginning the teaching journey, and the ones who have been engaged for a long time!
Rating: 5 / 5
#4 by K. Antman on March 16, 2010 - 1:22 am
I teach elementary art so this book is a bit above my students level (it focus’ on high school classes) but much of their information and observations transfer to any age. This book is packed with information and is unique in that it observes real classrooms to understand and create theory – the opposite of the usual education theory.
If I had a pre-service art teacher program I would require this book it is a great way to think more carefully about your classroom and how you teach.
Rating: 4 / 5
#5 by Katherine M. Douglas on March 16, 2010 - 2:23 am
Lois Hetlund and her colleagues have written an important book that grounds academic research firmly in the real world of schools. It is readable, accessable, and yet contains profound truths. Documenting and describing the sorts of thinking that can take place in high quality arts programs, the authors remind us of what a true education should contain, despite the teach-to-the-standardized-test momentum in many public schools.
Here is an article about the authors’ work:
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Highly recommend the book.
Rating: 5 / 5