INQUIRY TO CURRICULUM PROJECT 2020
Katherine K. Smith, Ph.D.
Through narrative inquiry, preservice art educators in the School of Art at the College of Design, Art, Architecture, and Planning at the University of Cincinnati, reflect on their own positions and synthesize that with current experiences in the field. These future teachers present their process of narrative inquiry that has evolved into a viable curricular approach they hope to implement in their future classrooms or schools. By reflecting on their position, privilege (or lack of privilege), and biases and synthesizing that with their current experience in the field, they questioned situations and events that led to further research. Preservice art educators conducted literature reviews based on the questions raised in their reflections and then shared their researched information with each other. Collaborative partners were created through dialogue in class. Together, these art educators illustrated the background to their research, a philosophical rationale, a curriculum overview, a curriculum in practice, and a curriculum assessment. The aim of this project is to use the process of narrative inquiry approach for research to arrive at relevant pedagogical approaches for various teaching situations.
​
The outcome of this project is critical reflection, researched and creative solutions, and articulate communication. The project catalyzes university level students in critical reflection of their own beliefs and synthesizes those beliefs with what they see and what they learn. This project teaches them to conduct research to resolve questions or tensions that occur in educational situations. Presenting their solutions to the public aids them in articulating their issues, research, and solutions to colleagues in their field. The result is a development of teacher leaders in the preservice area.
​
Links to published papers:
Student Engagement: A Progressive Approach https://scholar.uc.edu/show/0k225c16p
Creative Solutions for the Urban Classroom https://scholar.uc.edu/show/1z40kv08p
Real World of Diversity: Creating Authentic Experiences to Support Diversity https://scholar.uc.edu/show/xd07gt91j
Addressing the School to Prison Pipeline: Advocates for Students https://scholar.uc.edu/show/fq977w10m