Asia-Pacific Journal of Research in Early Childhood Education

Article

A Study on Early Childhood Educators’ Aesthetic Teaching Beliefs and Practices in Taiwan

Author
Yu-Ting Chen
Information
pp. 21~39 / 2014 Vol.8 No.3
e-ISSN2233-5234
p-ISSN1976-1961
Metrics Views 0 / Downloads 0
PDF

Abstract

This study explored early childhood educators’ aesthetic teaching beliefs and practices in Yunlin, Chiayi,and Tainan counties in Taiwan. Survey and interview methods were employed. The findings were asfollows. (1) The average of early childhood educators’ aesthetic teaching beliefs and practices was high.Their teaching beliefs were stronger than teaching practices. (2) There were significant differences inaesthetic teaching beliefs and practices in terms of location and educational background. (3) There was asignificantly positive correlation between aesthetic teaching beliefs and practices. (4) The interviewedearly childhood educators agreed with the importance of aesthetic education. They argued to developchildren’s aesthetic feelings through exploring nature and arts, and to guide children in appreciatingvarious arts and local arts. However, their difficulties were a lack of enough knowledge in artsappreciation, and insufficient arts resources in the mountains and rural areas.

Keywords

aesthetic teaching beliefs aesthetic teaching practices early childhood educators

References

  1. Acer, D., & O¨ meroðlu, E. (2008). A study on the effect of aesthetic education on the development of aesthetic judgment of six-year-old children. Early Childhood Education Journal, 35(4), 335-342.
  2. Bruner, J. (1996). The culture of education. Cambridge, MA: Harvard.
  3. Chen, M. (1993). The research of the aesthetic education and related factors in the elementary school teachers. Unpublished master thesis, Graduate Institute of Education, National Chengchi University, Taipei, Taiwan.
  4. Chen, S. (2007). A qualitative study on early childhood teachers’ belief and teaching practice in implementing thematic teaching. Journal of National Taichung University of Education, 21(1), 27-51.
  5. Chen, W., & Hertzog, N. (under review). Art all around us: Young children’s aesthetic experiences in an art project. Early Childhood Research and Practice.
  6. Chen, Y-T., & Walsh, D. (2008). Understanding, experiencing, and appreciating the arts: Folk pedagogy in two elementary schools in Taiwan. International Journal of Education and the Arts, 9(6). Retrieved from http://www.ijea.org/v9n6/ [ETC]
  7. Cheung, R. (2012). Teaching for creativity: Examining the beliefs of early childhood teachers and their influence on teaching practices. Australasian Journal of Early Childhood, 37(3), 43-51.
  8. Feeney, S., & Moravcik, E. (1988). Fostering esthetic development for young children. The Education Digest, 53(6), 44-47.
  9. Graue, M. E., & Walsh, D. J. (1998). Studying children in context: Theories, methods, and ethics. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publication.
  10. Hsiao, H., & Yang, S. (2010). The study of teaching beliefs reflected on teaching behavior: Focusing on elementary school teachers. The International Journal of Learning, 17(9), 299-309.
  11. Hsuang, T. (1986). Thesaurus. Taipei, Taiwan: Taiwanese Chuang-Hua.
  12. Kong, P. (1998). The development of aesthetics in Taiwan. Chiayi, Taiwan: Nanhua University.
  13. Leung, W. (2008). Teacher concerns about curriculum reform: The case of project learning. The Asia-Pacific Education Researcher, 17, 75–97.
  14. Lim, B. (2000). Aesthetic education for young children in three early childhood settings: Bank Street, Reggio Emilia, and Waldorf. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York.
  15. Lim, B. (2005). Aesthetic experience in a dynamic cycle: Implications for early childhood teachers and teacher educators. Journal of Early Childhood Teacher Education, 25(4), 363-373.
  16. Lo, H. (2008). An action research on young children’s aesthetic education: From the aspect of drama/theater appreciation curriculum. Unpublished master thesis, Graduate School of Early Childhood Education, National Tainan University, Tainan, Taiwan.
  17. Madura, S. (1995). The line and texture of aesthetic response: Primary children study authors and illustrators. Reading Teacher, 49(2), 110-118.
  18. Ministry of Education. (1979). Legislation of compulsory education. Taipei, Taiwan: Ministry of Education.
  19. Ministry of Education. (2003). Grade 1-9 curriculum guidelines in elementary school and junior high school. Taipei, Taiwan: Ministry of Education.
  20. Ministry of Education. (2008). Senior high school curriculum guidelines in the required subject: Arts and life. Taipei, Taiwan: Ministry of Education.
  21. Ministry of Education. (2009). Early childhood education and care activities and curriculum guidelines (temporary version). Taipei, Taiwan: Ministry of Education.
  22. Ministry of Education. (2012). The temporary curriculum guidelines in early childhood education and care activities. Taipei, Taiwan: Ministry of Education.
  23. Ministry of Education. (2013). Intermediate and Long Term Plans for Aesthetic Education. Taipei, Taiwan: Ministry of Education.
  24. Pajares, M. F. (1992). Teachers’ beliefs and educational research: Cleaning up a messy conduct. Review of Educational Research, 62(3), 307-331.
  25. Stokrocki, M. (2001). Children’s ethno-aesthetic responses to a Turkish carpet: A cross-cultural study in three cultures. International Journal of Art & Design Education, 20(3), 320-331.
  26. Wang, G. (1998). A study on aesthetic teaching of elementary school teachers in Taiwan. Unpublished master thesis, Graduate Institute of Compulsory Education, Hsin-Ju Teachers College, Hsin-Ju, Taiwan.
  27. Wang, G. (2000). Exploring the relationship between teaching beliefs and teaching practices of teachers. Educational Research & Information, 8(2), 84-98.
  28. Wei, M. (2005). Contemporary trends in early childhood education. Taipei, Taiwan: Psychological Publishing.