The artist students and free choices: Reflections from a sixth-grade art class

Erden Kocaarslan G., OKVURAN A.

Journal of Educational Research, 2025 (SSCI, Scopus) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Basım Tarihi: 2025
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1080/00220671.2025.2589096
  • Dergi Adı: Journal of Educational Research
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, IBZ Online, ABI/INFORM, Education Abstracts, Educational research abstracts (ERA), ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Index Islamicus, MLA - Modern Language Association Database, Psycinfo
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: artistic creativity, Choice-based art education, phenomenology, sixth graders, visual art course
  • Ankara Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

The present study aims to explore in depth the perceptions and experiences of students who have received instruction through the Choice-Based Art Education (CBAE) approach. Designed within a phenomenological framework, data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using content analysis. The findings revealed four main themes and their respective sub-themes. Accordingly, student experiences and perspectives within the scope of CBAE were examined under the themes of “The Artist Student” “Pedagogy,” “Classroom Content,” and “Assessment.” The study’s results indicate that CBAE makes a meaningful and enriching contribution to students’ artistic creativity processes. Students reported feeling like artists during the CBAE experience, expressed that having the freedom to make choices enhanced their engagement with the course, and noted that they developed a range of artistic and cognitive skills. Moreover, they indicated that they assumed responsibility for their learning and gained a stronger sense of self-efficacy in their artistic work.