Teaching Complexities of Peace and Conflict Through Visual Arts: Affordances and Challenges

• In Event: 64.087 - MTCC Roundtable Session 28
  In Roundtable Session: 64.087-10 - Reading the Violences of the World of School: A Secondary Literacy Teacher's Changing Perceptions

Abstract

This research study that examined teaching strategies and learning outcomes of an art-based undergraduate course on the subject of peace and conflict transformation. The study utilized a qualitative analysis of students textual and visual works created as part of the course requirements and investigated the (1) effectiveness of visual works in demonstrating student learning of disciplinary content, (2) effectiveness of arts-based assessment approaches as an alternative to text-based assessments, and (3) affordances and challenges of using arts-based teaching and learning strategies. Preliminary findings reveal the potential of using arts-based teaching, learning, and assessment strategies in facilitating a deeper understanding of the complexities of peace and conflict, as well as promoting critical thinking skills, despite students’ limited experience in art making.

Author

• Mousumi De, Bowling Green State University