This publication includes descriptions of arts programs, units of study, lesson plans, and course outlines submitted by Illinois arts teachers who answered the invitation to document their successful approaches to art edication. This compilation was not designed to be prescriptive, but to be representative of activities in Illinois. The articles…

Examines postmodernist art and its impact on architecture and visual art in the United States. States that this genre of art has affected dramatically object art, such as furniture design. Contends that postmodernism can be traced through societal and personal histories. (CFR)

Explores the sources of art criticism and reviews some extant pedagogical models. Outlines the content skills to be developed and the role of art criticism in a discipline-based teacher training curriculum. Recommends that art criticism should incorporate pedagogy and other disciplines of art. (KM)

Points out shortcomings of instructional methods derived from art criticism, viewed either as a set of procedures for critiquing artwork or as metacognitive principles for reflective thinking about artwork. Proposes a model of critical-inquiry instruction based upon three instructional activities: personal response, student research, and concept…

Addresses the reasons why students resist learning about modern art within humanities courses. Provides strategies for encouraging students to appreciate and critique modern art, such as using comic strips to illuminate beliefs about modern art, studying the theory and practice of a particular artist, or utilizing group critiques of an artwork.…

Reviews some of the basic tenets of postmodernism's approach to art education and argues for a more tolerant and ubiquitous acceptance of these views. Postmodernists believe that art education should include cultural critique as well as aesthetic experience and that popular art measures culture in ways high art cannot. (MJP)

Describes a "critical pedagogy" that encourages reflective self-examination of attitudes, values, and beliefs within historical and cultural critique. Highlights an art lesson for preservice teachers that illustrates the use of a critical pedagogy of representation, focusing on self-portraits by Frida Kahlo and Leonora Carrington. Discusses the…

Asserts that elementary school art experiences are not always positive experiences. Discusses Eisner's model of art criticism which comprised six dimensions of critical judgments. Recommends a synthesis of subject-centered approaches based on four areas of activity: reacting; researching, responding, and reflecting. (CFR)

Contends that writing across the curriculum, including the visual arts, has become a major educational trend in the past decade. Argues that writing helps shape the processes of art criticism and appreciation. Includes suggestions for writing assignments and examples of student writing. (CFR)

Reports on a qualitative study of complex, sophisticated thinking among 50 preservice art teachers taking an art criticism course. Maintains that the conversational model of instruction helped students understand the higher-order thinking skills associated with art criticism. (CFR)

Shows how discipline-based art education developed, and relates it to Thomas S. Kuhn's theory of paradigm shifts. Critiques Gilbert Clark, Michael Day, and W. Dwaine Greer's theory of disciplined-based art education and highlights mistaken notions in the inquiry methods of curriculum specialists. Concludes that art educators should focus on how…

Shows how learning, in an art appreciation class, can be more meaningful and lasting by emphasizing expressive outcomes that develop during class and reflect students' life experiences. Explains how teachers can take advantage of students' spontaneously generated questions. Provides four examples from an undergraduate class that can be applied at…

Contends that teaching interpretation within art criticism is probably the most difficult aspect of teaching criticism. Provides suggestions and 17 principles to guide art teachers in engaging their students interpretive dialog about works of art and to provide criteria for assessing their interpretations. (CFR)

Papers by graduate students, and occasionally papers from their mentors which establish a context for the student papers, are organized by sponsoring University. Student papers presented are: (1) "Cognitive Strategy in Design: The Measurement of its Effect On the Student Design Project" (Michael Eckersley); (2) "The Effects of…