Teaching art in context: case studies for preservice art education

the long version

Case-based instruction--the reading, discussion, analysis, and writing of cases--is a problem-centered approach to preservice art education that enables the examination of realistic art teaching issues and the complexities of art teaching. Cases, or teaching cases, are stories about teaching that are written from the perspective of the teacher. The case studies in this anthology are "real" stories about art teaching that can provide preservice art educators with a way to link formal theory (coursework) with practical theory (observation and experience) through analysis and reflection on a variety of art teaching practices. Careful descriptions and syntheses of real-life art teaching practices introduce preservice teachers to a multiplicity of art teaching issues, concerns, and situations, and also provide a format for studying curricular and pedagogical practices. Authored by art educators who teach and work within a variety of K-12 school and higher education settings, the case studies are written for use with preservice art educators and preservice elementary generalists in art education methods courses.