scholarly journals Creativity through mindfulness: The Arts and Wellbeing in Education (AWE) professional learning programme

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 319-332 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex Southern
Keyword(s):  
Professional Learning ◽  
Arts Education ◽  
Well Being ◽  
School Teachers ◽  
Creative Practice ◽  
Education Professional ◽  
The Arts ◽  
Key Concepts ◽  
Definition Of

This article uses findings from a case study of an arts/education professional learning programme in Wales to construct a definition of creativity that reflects on and contributes to debates around the concept, and its value within education. The programme Arts and Wellbeing in Education (AWE) focused on supporting school teachers’ well-being through creative practice. The research comprised a participatory methodology that sought to explore the circulating discourse around the key concepts of creativity and well-being in order to identify how the team leading the programme conceptualized the value of creativity, and how this was enacted. The findings point to a notion of creativity that is an inclusive, carnival experience that may improve well-being through mindful approaches to creative practice.

Enhancing teachers' and administrators learning experiences through school–university partnerships: a qualitative case study in China

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Guoyuan Sang ◽  
Jun Zhou ◽  
Abdulghani Muthanna
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Professional Learning ◽  
Qualitative Case Study ◽  
Process Analysis ◽  
Learning Experiences ◽  
School Teachers ◽  
Case Study Methodology ◽  
Content Type

PurposeThis qualitative study aimed to explore how the school–university partnership (SUP) enhances the elementary teachers' professional development in a school-based setting.Design/methodology/approachBy following the qualitative case study methodology, this case study employs semi-structured interviews (the authors designed) with 10 school teachers and administrators. The authors adapted the iterative process analysis (Miles and Huberman, 1984) for compiling, coding, annotating the data and interpreting the interview transcripts. The authors also used the member checking technique that establishes credibility in a qualitative study (Lincoln and Guba, 1985) with six participants.FindingsThe findings suggest that participating in a series of professional learning activities led to the enhancement of teachers' and administrators learning experiences in view of educational theories, action research abilities, teaching efficiency, teaching research capacities and improvement of school guidelines. Further, they reveal that the participants' expectations for future SUP collaborations centred on realizing the sustainability and effectiveness of collaborations, and autonomy of teachers.Research limitations/implicationsThe limitations of the current study include its focus on a single SUP within one school and the reliance on data collected only by interviews during the SUP process. This study offers implications for teacher learning within SUP collaborations. First, schools should consider how to involve and influence all teachers rather than SUP core members only. To this end, authentic professional learning communities need to be constructed. Second, universities should pay much more attention to the professional development of their faculty members towards integration of theoretical knowledge and practical experiences.Originality/valueThis original study explores practical ways of improving teachers' theoretical and practical teaching practices/experiences through SUP projects, and contributes new knowledge to the teaching professional development of school teachers and administrators.

scholarly journals Transcending utility? The gendered conflicts of a contemporary creative identification

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-79 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie Taylor ◽  
Marie Paludan
Keyword(s):  
Visual Arts ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Cultural Industries ◽  
Creative Processes ◽  
Practical Applications ◽  
Creative Practice ◽  
The Arts ◽  
Art For Art's Sake ◽  
Therapeutic Utility ◽  
Psychology Of Creativity

The late 20th and early 21st centuries have been described as an age of creativity in affluent Western societies because of the increased popularity of the visual arts and the expansion of the global sector of the creative and cultural industries (CCI). The psychology of creativity has contributed new conceptualisations of creativity and creative processes, challenging associations that derive from the elite arts. This article investigates the implications of these changes for the gendering of creativity and creative practice. It asks if contemporary reconceptualisations of creativity open new possibilities for women to identify as creative practitioners. The article presents a critical discursive study of interviews with UK women maker-artists. The analysis shows how the women emphasise the practical applications or utility of their creative practice. A claim of utility can function to justify the practice. In addition, a claim of therapeutic utility, for others and for the artist herself, potentially addresses the neoliberal priority that people take responsibility for their personal well-being. However, the justification of utility contrasts with the creative vocation associated with the masculine elite artist who pursues “art for art’s sake”. The justification can therefore be seen to undermine the women’s creative identifications, reinstating the conventionally masculine status of creativity and the arts.

scholarly journals Walkable Urban Environments: An Ergonomic Approach of Evaluation

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (20) ◽  
pp. 8347
Author(s):  
Letizia Appolloni ◽  
Alberto Giretti ◽  
Maria Vittoria Corazza ◽  
Daniela D’Alessandro
Keyword(s):  
Urban Environment ◽  
Urban Policy ◽  
Central Italy ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Model Structure ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Definition Of

Background. The salutogenicity of urban environments is significantly affected by their ergonomics, i.e., by the quality of the interactions between citizens and the elements of the built environment. Measuring and modelling urban ergonomics is thus a key issue to provide urban policy makers with planning solutions to increase the well-being, usability and safety of the urban environment. However, this is a difficult task due to the complexity of the interrelations between the urban environment and human activities. The paper contributes to the definition of a generalized model of urban ergonomics and salutogenicity, focusing on walkability, by discussing the relevant parameters from the large and variegated sets proposed in the literature, by discussing the emerging model structure from a data mining process, by considering the background of the relevant functional dependency already established in the literature, and by providing evidence of the solutions’ effectiveness. The methodology is developed for a case study in central Italy, with a focus on the mobility issue, which is a catalyst to generate more salutogenic and sustainable behaviors.

scholarly journals “I think the arts are as prominent as any subject”: A study of arts education in two Scandinavian schools

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Catharina Christophersen ◽  
Cecilia Ferm Thorgersen
Keyword(s):  
Educational Leadership ◽  
Personal Growth ◽  
Arts Education ◽  
Aesthetic Experience ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Educational Systems ◽  
School Life ◽  
The Arts ◽  
Challenging Situation

The arts seem to be under pressure in many educational systems, which is demonstrated by a general lack of recognition of aesthetic experience and learning, a lack of emphasis on the arts in education, and often also a lack of fully competent teachers. Despite the challenging situation facing the arts in schools in general, there are exceptions. Some schools do choose to focus on the arts. This article is based on an ethnographic double case study that explored arts education practices in two such Scandinavian schools. The purpose was to examine how education in the arts subjects was carried out in the schools, and how the actors perceived, articulated and legitimated the educational practices in the arts subjects. The case descriptions of the two schools imply that the educational leadership in the schools were of great importance. Further, that the arts are integrated as a natural part of everyday school life, and both schools have taken a holistic approach to education, in which the arts are perceived to involve and contribute to learning in the broadest sense, as well as to the pupils’ social and personal growth. Also, the case descriptions show that arts education practices were carried out in a creative, but challenging tension between frames and freedom.

scholarly journals Supporting Children’s Well-being with Art in Nature: Artist Pedagogue Perceptions

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 98-112
Author(s):  
Nicola Walshe ◽  
Elsa Lee ◽  
Millie J. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Qualitative Case Study ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Individual Interviews ◽  
The Arts ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Mental Well Being

There is increasing concern about children’s mental well-being and an urgent need for research into how to support positive mental health; including as part of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Alongside this is the heightened awareness about diminished access to green spaces and diminished exposure to the arts for children. Our research aims to show the potential for addressing these three issues in tandem through a qualitative case study exploring the work of one charity, Cambridge Curiosity and Imagination (CCI). The charity undertakes arts-based projects in nature with children. In particular, this article considers the implications of CCI artist pedagogues’ perceptions of their nature-based practice for children’s well-being. The research comprised a ‘talk and draw’ focus group followed by individual interviews with CCI artists. Findings show artist pedagogues’ work has the potential to support aspects of children’s well-being through promotion of agency, developing confidence and providing inspiration to support creativity.

scholarly journals QUALITY OF LIFE ASSESSMENT BASED ON ECONOMIC WELLBEING PERSPECTIVE: A CASE STUDY OF JOHOR BAHRU AND PETALING, SELANGOR

2019 ◽  
Vol 17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariana Mohamed Osman ◽  
Nur Farhanah Rosli ◽  
Noor Suzilawati Rabe
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Living Condition ◽  
Life Assessment ◽  
The People ◽  
Educational Satisfaction ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
The Individual

The definition of quality of life is varied. Different individuals may perceive the quality of life in a different form of other individuals. Over more than four decades, Malaysia has made remarkable achievements regarding its economic growth as well as its socio-economic development. Numerous factors have been identified that may influence the quality of life of the people according to their personal preferences. This article assessed the perception of 100 respondent's lives in two major cities in Malaysia namely Johor Bharu and Petaling. These cities are also the major district in Johor Darul Takzim and Selangor Darul Ehsan. These study also would be focusing on the economic well-being of the individual. The economic individual is economic capacity, transportation, living condition and educational satisfaction.

scholarly journals L’impresa significante fra tradizione e innovazione

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlo Bagnoli ◽  
Eleonora Masiero
Keyword(s):  
Action Research ◽  
Specific Model ◽  
Strategic Innovation ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Key Concepts ◽  
Strategy Innovation ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Value Model ◽  
Over Time

This study explores the idea of a significant business, framing it through the key concepts that define it and illustrating it through a case study that narrates the evolution of a century-old company. Born as an intellectual response to the economic and financial crisis of 2008, the significant business is conceived as an entity capable of enduring over time through the creation of value and its distribution within the community in which it operates. The significant business should be also aware of its own identity and of the need to innovate itself over time considering the synergies and the collaborations that the territory offers, to continue to create wealth. This contribution is part of a series of works that, resulting from numerous action-research projects coordinated by Professor Carlo Bagnoli, have seen as protagonists the companies and their strategic innovation. The starting point of many of these projects is the Manifesto of the Significant Company (Bagnoli et al. 2015), which aims at imagining a business model able to explore and innovate the company to increase its competitiveness, and also to restore meaning to the company itself, through the definition of its own identity. Contributing to previous works, this book explores the idea of significant enterprise by adopting a business and a historical perspective. The first part of the book deals with the business perspective, to introduce the value model commonly used in action research studies undertaken by the spin-off Strategy Innovation of Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, and to describe the specific model of a significant business. The second part of the book narrates the story of a centuries-long business, Barovier&Toso, exploring its evolutions. Focusing on the different perspectives that shaped the key concepts and narrating the path followed by a centenary company, this work hopes to shed further light on this fascinating theme together with the reader.

scholarly journals From Psychology of Sustainability to Sustainability of Urban Spaces: Promoting a Primary Prevention Approach for Well-Being in the Healthy City Designing. A Waterfront Case Study in Livorno

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 760 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emanuele Leporelli ◽  
Giovanni Santi
Keyword(s):  
Urban Space ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Healthy City ◽  
Before And After ◽  
First Results ◽  
Physical And Psychological Health ◽  
Definition Of

One of the main objectives of contemporary society and international research is to improve the physical and psychological health and well-being of the population, especially within the urban space. An effective approach to address this complex issue must necessarily be trans-disciplinary, and must be framed in the broader perspective of the Science of Sustainability, in particular the Psychology of Sustainability and Sustainable Development, as a frame of reference. The study shows the first results of research, in terms of methodology and qualitative analysis, with the following objectives—identification of the criteria for intervention for a healthy city design, with particular attention to the psychological, architectural, and construction aspects, and an initial verification of these criteria, through a case study consisting of a section of the city’s waterfront, in the city of Livorno. This case study has enabled, both, the definition of an innovative design and implementation of solutions, for the correct use, accessibility, and management of spaces. It provides the first evaluation of a possible digital analyses of a waterfront, before and after intervention; and highlights the potential and the critical aspects of the process of recovery and re-appropriation of an urban space, for a new social life, within it.

scholarly journals How do elementary school teachers learn coding and robotics? A case study of mediations and conflicts

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tugba Boz ◽  
Martha Allexsaht-Snider
Keyword(s):  
Elementary School ◽  
School District ◽  
Elementary School Teachers ◽  
Activity Theory ◽  
Professional Learning ◽  
Teacher Collaboration ◽  
School Teachers ◽  
Analytical Approaches ◽  
And Robotics

AbstractIn this qualitative case study, we examined in-service elementary school teachers’ learning of coding and robotics in a blended professional learning course developed and delivered through the collaboration between university faculty and a school district. We focused on activity theory to understand and reveal the mediations, conflicts, and effective practices that facilitated or hindered teachers’ learning of coding and robotics. The participants of the study were twelve teachers from five different elementary schools in a rural school district. Data collection and generation sources included interviews, videos of class meetings, course assignments, and artifacts. In analyzing the data, we employed analytical approaches under the guidance of activity theory. The findings showed that teacher collaboration, coding/robotics platforms employed during the professional learning course, instructional approaches, and resources in and outside the professional learning setting mediated or conflicted with the teachers’ learning of coding and robotics depending on the way that each of these elements was employed in the course. Elaborating on these elements, we reported the implications for further research and practice.

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