Contemporary Art in Early Childhood

EDU S311 Subject & Catalog Number

Description

*Lottery-Based Enrollment* This course examines the potential of modern and contemporary art in young children’s learning today. We will explore the history of visual art in childhood theories, including Montessori, Reggio Emilia, and New Materialism, as well as its positioning in the public school curriculum in the United States today. What is the significance of the arts in children's learning today? How can we design learning environments that connect with the processes and practices of contemporary artists? How can we evaluate children’s creative learning? Each week, students will engage in a 1-hour 15-minute theoretical workshop in which we will discuss, debate, and reflect on education theories and philosophies outlined in the readings and make connections with the overarching course questions. Students will then participate in a 2-hour studio workshop in which they will learn about contemporary artists, experiment with art materials, and explore ‘pedagogical curation’ - a strategy that can be used to design learning environments that connect contemporary art practices and children’s play. This strategy includes practical steps for sourcing materials, researching artists, and scaffolding learning through the selection of materials, tools, vocabulary, and techniques. Through group discussions, readings, art museum visits, and hands-on making, students will gain a rigorous understanding of innovative theories and practices for integrating contemporary art into early childhood education. The course also features guest presentations from artists, curators, and early childhood experts who will share case studies from the field. This course is ideal for graduate students studying the Early Childhood and Arts and Learning concentrations.