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Learning Value of Visual Arts -Ece

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Learning Value of Visual Arts

This paper will present my point of view on the learning value of the visual arts using Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences, Piaget’s Constructivism and Vygotsky’s Social Learning Theory.

Art as mere creative expression has been the dominant theme for much of the twentieth century. However, researchers have been finding connections between learning in the visual arts and the acquisition of knowledge and skills in other areas. Art like text can be used as a source to practice critical thinking. Art can also be used to teach children about culture, traditions, history and even social issues. The process of creating art contributes to the cognitive, physical, social and emotional development of …show more content…

They also later could solve problems by controlling their bodily motions and handle objects skilfully using both fine motor movements of fingers and hands and gross motor movements of the body (Wright, 2003). Art making activities also supports Piaget’s age and stage theory of children’s development especially when they start to experience the world through their senses and they start acquiring motor skills.
Toddlers develop control of large and small muscle groups through making art. Painting with brushes, crayons, kneading clay or cutting and tearing paper help them develop co-ordination and strength in their arms and fingers. This will help them gain confidence in using tools for making art and later for writing. Making art also helps children develop eye-hand co-ordination. As children decide how to make parts fit together into a whole, where to place objects, and what details to include, they learn to coordinate what they see with the movements of their hands and fingers. This eye-hand coordination is essential for many activities, including forming letters and spacing words in formal writing.

References

Desantis, K. & Housen, A. (2000). A Brief Guide to Developmental Theory and Aesthetic Development. Visual Understanding in Education.

Dr. Huitt, W.G. (1999). Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development.
< http://www.edpsycinteractive.org/topics/cognition/piaget.html > (Accessed: 27.2.2012)

Gardner, H (1983). Multiple

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