Learning Through
the Arts Research, Ontario |
Research into the effects of the Learning Through
the Arts [LTTA] program in Ontario is on-going. There
are currently three main foci of the research:
1) the pan-Ontario program evaluation research, 2)
a focused study of the effects of LTTA programming
on academic achievement in mathematics and literacy,
as well as students’ attitudes, for one cohort
of LTTA students, and 3) a study of the experiences
of the LTTA artist-educators. All of these studies
are being funded by the Ontario Ministry of Culture.
| 1. The On-going
Pan-Ontario Evaluation Research |
In May 2008, all Ontario
teachers and principals involved in the LTTA program
will receive questionnaires designed to gather information
concerning their experiences of the LTTA program.
The teacher questionnaire will focus on teachers’ growth in arts-based teaching,
teachers’ views of the benefits of the programming
for their students, and suggestions for improvements
in the programming. Teachers will receive this questionnaire
on-line and will be able to respond electronically.
In May 2008, all Ontario
principals whose schools are participating in the
LTTA program will also receive an on-line questionnaire
designed to elicit information regarding the perceived
effects of the LTTA programming on students, teachers,
and the whole school culture.
Survey Monkey allows for the broad dissemination of
these questionnaires and for the tracking of regional
responses to the questionnaires. The regional results
will be available from the Director of Academic Research
for LTTA, Dr. Ann Patteson, in July 2008. School boards
interested in having these results should contact Dr.
Patteson directly at patteson@queensu.ca
| 2. The Focused
Study of Academic and Attitudinal Effects of
LTTA Programming |
The focused study of the effects of LTTA programming
on LTTA students is taking place in four regions of
Ontario: Sudbury, Ottawa, Halton region, and Toronto. |
This is a controlled longitudinal study lasting
from 2007 to 2010. A cohort of grade four students
is being followed through to the end of grade six.
Class averages on the provincial Grade 4 and Grade
6 tests in mathematics and literacy are being used
to determine if academic advantages accrue to students
engaged in the LTTA program, as opposed to a parallel
cohort in designated control schools.
Attitudinal changes are also being tracked, including
students’ attitudes toward schooling, the arts,
their peers, etc. Socioeconomic considerations are being
factored into all analyses.
Along with the provincial tests, instruments for this
study include student questionnaires and focus groups,
teacher questionnaires and interviews, principal questionnaires
and interviews, and field observations.
This study could not be extended to all regions of
Ontario due to the expense and researcher hours involved.
However, every effort has been made to ensure that
a representative sampling of Ontario students is involved.
A report on the baseline findings of this study will
be available in July 2008.
| 3. The Artist-Educator Study |
The LTTA Artist-Educators are the backbone of the
LTTA programming. The Ontario Ministry of Culture has
requested information concerning the training and in-class
work of these individuals, as well as the benefits
of program involvement for artists’ well-being
and personal creative work.
LTTA has a robust program of research, with 12 separate
studies currently being carried out in Canada and in
LTTA sites in other countries.
In considering which studies to undertake, the LTTA
Research Division attempts to determine their usefulness
to all LTTA program participants, the financial
and human resources available, and the contribution
the studies may make to existing knowledge of the effects
of arts-based teaching and learning for students and
teachers. Any questions about the existing research
or requests for special research projects may be sent
to Dr. Ann Patteson, Director of Academic Research,
LTTA: patteson@queensu.ca |
