03/22/2022
By Lizzie Casanave

The School of Education invites you to attend an Ed.D. Dissertation Defense by Ellen Mullane on “Celebration of Culture and Student Voice Through Visual Arts: A Case Study of Effective Engagement Strategies.”

Date: Monday, April 4
Time: 10 a.m.
Location: This will be a virtual dissertation defense via Zoom. Those interested in attending should contact Phitsamay_Uy@uml.edu to request access to the Zoom link.

Dissertation Chair: Phitsamay Uy, Ed.D., Associate Professor, School of Education, University of Massachusetts, Lowell

Dissertation Committee:

  • Julie Sawyer, Ed.D.
  • Christine Whittlesly, Ed.D.

Abstract:
The purpose of this qualitative case study was to investigate the role arts and arts education play in positive identity development for students. The research questions that guided this study were: a) How does the art classroom promote a community of learners? b) How does the arts classroom promote authentic engagement? c) How does the arts classroom and arts curriculum promote positive student identity? Literature reveals a growing need to address how schools can be anti-racist educational institutions. Few research studies examine the role of art and arts education on students' identity development as a means of engagement and achievement in school.

A qualitative case study of five different classrooms was conducted in one arts department using data collected from focus group discussions, classroom observations, student artwork collections, and teacher interviews. Data analysis of the focus group interviews, classroom observations, teacher interviews, students’ artwork and self-reflections in the classrooms revealed several important connections that need to take place to support the positive identity development of students through the arts. Teachers who made direct connections with their students, their curriculum, and their art colleagues were found to employ more engagement strategies than teachers who did not holistically engage. Students of color reported higher sense of belonging in classrooms where teachers made connections between the art content and student’s cultural background. This finding suggests that teachers and administrators need to reflect on traditional methods of teaching, classroom culture, and curriculum when addressing the culturally diverse student body. Many teachers continue to miss valuable learning opportunities where students are able to incorporate home language and culture. Key findings include insights on instructional practice and relationship building emerging from the arts classroom that might be leveraged in other core academic classes to engage students. Future research on how art, arts classrooms and arts curriculum can help develop a student’s positive identity the more engagement and deeper learning the students experience, which lead to higher levels of achievement.