#181

We don't really question the importance of studying mathematics, or the importance of studying science. We don't even question the importance of athletics! But when it comes to the arts, people don't really understand their significance. They think of them as frills, as fun and pretty, but they don't understand their deep significance for humans.
Ellen Winner's research focuses on cognition in the arts in typical and gifted children. She studies the impact of arts education on the development of thinking dispositions or habits of mind such as reflection, exploration, and observation; and experimental aesthetics. She is a Professor Emerita of Psychology at Boston College and also a senior researcher at Project Zero, which is part of the Graduate School of Education at Harvard University.
Ellen is the author of more than 100 articles and four books, including “An Uneasy Guest in the Schoolhouse: Art Education from Colonial Times to a Promising Future,” “Invented Worlds: The Psychology of the Arts,” and “Studio Thinking: The Real Benefits of Visual Arts Education.”
Greg and Ellen chat about the history of art education, why sports gets a pass in terms of what is valuable in our education systems, the struggle to define “art” and studying memoirs & empathy.
Show Links:
Recommended Resources:
Eliot Eisner: news.stanford....
Project Zero: www.pz.harvard....
Guest Profile:
Faculty Profile at Boston College: www.bc.edu/bc-...
Professional Profile at Project Zero: www.pz.harvard....
Professional Profile at Edge.org: www.edge.org/m...
Ellen Winner Website: www.ellenwinne...
Her Work:
Ellen Winner on Google Scholar: scholar.google...
Order Book: An Uneasy Guest in the Schoolhouse: Art Education from Colonial Times to a Promising Future: amzn.to/3CJIE4o
Order Book: How Art Works: A Psychological Exploration: amzn.to/3CNZWNR
Order Book: Studio Thinking 3: The Real Benefits of Visual Arts Education: amzn.to/3cwoi4a
Order Book: The Child as Visual Artist (Elements in Child Development): amzn.to/3wJX8gO
Order Book: Studio Thinking from the Start: The K-8 Art Educator’s Handbook: amzn.to/3KyBTEw
Order Book: Educational Research and Innovation Art for Art's Sake?: The Impact of Arts Education: amzn.to/3wDVg9x
Order Book: Studio Thinking 2: The Real Benefits of Visual Arts Education: amzn.to/3wImfRg