Examining Children’s Art Products and Determining Their Aesthetic Judgment in a Preschool Classroom Where Learning Centers were Used

Year 2015, Issue: 7, 1 - 16, 24.01.2015

Demet Özer Kocamanoğlu Dilek Acer

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine children’s art products and determine their aesthetic judgment in a preschool classroom where learning centers were used. The participants of this study were 19 children aged 60 to 72 months, enrolled in Ankara University Practice School for Preschool Education (1) and Child Club in 2011-2012 academic year. In the group, 10 children were male and 9 were female. Furthermore, qualitative data were collected from 17 parents, two of whom had twins. Qualitative and quantitative methods were used together in the study, based on a pretest-posttest model, involving a single group. The data-collecting instruments were Taylor-Helmstadter Pair Comparison Scale of Aesthetic Judgment, Product File Evaluation Form developed by the researcher and interview forms for children and parents. The art products created by children were evaluated by experts in consideration of five criteria. According to their evaluation, children received the highest average scores for the formal quality of art products. There was a significant difference between pretest and posttest scores in the Scale of Aesthetic Judgment. The mean ranks and sums of test scores suggest that the difference is in favor of the posttest score. All children indicated that they liked the learning centers in the educational environment. The study reports the details of the reasons children mentioned for liking the learning environment. Moreover, all parents agreed that the learning environment had positive impacts on the development of children. The part of recommendations in this study outlines the need for and content of further studies required in the field. 

Keywords: learning centers, preschool learning environment, aesthetic judgment, art products

Keywords

learning centers, preschool learning environment, aesthetic judgment, art products

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