Browsing by Author "Voutilainen, Heidi"

The purpose of this study was to investigate kindergarten teachers’ conceptions of the importance and objectives of art education. Practices related to the planning, implementation and assessment of art activities were also investigated. Finally, the aim was to reflect on whether the conceptions of the educators were in line with the goals defined in the national core curricula for early childhood education and care and for pre-primary education. This study is based on a survey conducted with early childhood educators in Kuopio during December 2016. An online questionnaire was circulated within 27 day-care centres. The questionnaire was addressed to the kindergarten teachers via day-care centre managers. The data were analysed quantitatively. The kindergarten teachers considered art activities as valuable opportunities for self-expression and perceived the activities as beneficial for the development of creativity and imagination. Furthermore, the objectives related to the development of motor skills and the ability to express one’s ideas, observations and experiences were recognised as of great importance. Objectives related to multicultural and media education were considered of least importance. This finding could be identified as the greatest challenge in the implementation of art education within the framework of the national core curricula. Both multicultural and media education are closely connected to the concept of multiliteracy. This study suggests that visual literacy and the ability to interpret diverse cultural meanings and messages could be effectively and meaningfully promoted by the means of art education and should be given greater emphasis in the practices of early childhood education. Secondly, the results of this study indicate that further emphasis should be put on children's participation in planning and assessing art activities.