A Content Analysis of K-12 Visual Arts Standards: Extent, Forms, and Exemplars of Ecological Integration

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Thursday 1:45 pm Four Seasons Ballroom 1
  In Roundtable Session: Constructing Equitable Arts Education Spaces (Table 2)

Abstract

In lieu of the undeniable ecological emergencies facing the planet and the need for ecologically oriented art pedagogies, which have been well argued and recurringly championed in the field, the degree to which and manner in which visual arts standards might support such approaches is important to assess. In this article, we present a content analysis of U.S. K-12 national and state visual arts standards. We found ecological integration units were present but minimal across most standards. Despite our conclusion that widespread ecological re-imagining of visual arts standards will be required, our analysis also demonstrates the potential of such integration. This content analysis provides exemplars for future standards revisions and identifies some key high-impact entry points for ecological integration.

Author

• Joy Gaulden Bertling, University of Tennessee