“Make a Wish”: Symbolism and Visual Metaphor in Middle-School Students’ Arts-Based Data Visualizations

• In Event: Saturday Roundtable Session 9:45 am
  In Roundtable Session: Integrating Arts, STEM, and Literacy Education (Table 5)

Abstract

Artists have represented data trends and patterns in varied symbolic ways that differ qualitatively from more traditional, graphic forms. However, little research examines the ways K-12 students are engaging in data-visualization practices, particularly arts-oriented, socially and ecologically engaged practices. We conducted research examining the ways middle school students use symbolism and visual metaphor to communicate ideas about data. Employing a design-based research methodology, we studied two eighth-grade art classes’ data visualization practices through reviews of students’ data visualizations, artist statements, field notes, and group interviews. We found almost all students exceeded graphical data-visualization approaches by using pictorial elements to reintroduce some context to the numbers represented in the data, yet opportunities remain for students to create more novel visual metaphors.

Authors

• Joy Gaulden Bertling, University of Tennessee

• Amanda Galbraith, University of Tennessee

• Tabitha Wandell, University of Tennessee

• Rita M. Swartzentruber, University of Tennessee

• Lynn L. Hodge, University of Tennessee