Jean Piaget research

Piaget's theory of cognitive development

Piaget (1936) was the first psychologist to make a systematic study of cognitive development.

 

Piaget (1936) described his work as genetic epistemology (i.e. the origins of thinking). Genetics is the scientific study of where things come from (their origins). Epistemology is concerned with the basic categories of thinking, the framework of intelligence.

What Piaget wanted to do was not to measure how well children could count, spell or solve problems as a way of grading their I.Q. What he was more interested in was the way in which fundamental concepts like the very idea of number, time, quantity, causality, justice and so on emerged.

Before Piaget’s work, the common assumption in psychology was that children are merely less competent thinkers than adults. Piaget showed that young children think in different ways compared to adults and go through specific stages of thought.

1. Schema's
(building blocks of knowledge).
2. Adaptation processes that enable the transition from one stage to another (equilibrium, assimilation and  accommodation). Assimilation – using an existing schema to deal with a new object or situation.
   Accommodation – This happens when the existing schema (knowledge) does not work, and needs to be changed to deal with a new object or situation.
   Equilibration – This is the force which moves development along. Piaget believed that cognitive development did not progress at a steady rate, but rather in leaps and bounds.
   
3. Stages of Cognitive Development:Piaget proposed four stages of cognitive development which reflect the increasing sophistication of children's thought:
   sensorimotor, (birth to age 2)  object permanence
   preoperational, (from age 2 to age 7)  think about things symbolically but still egocentric
   concrete operational, (from age 7 to age 11) the beginning of logical though
   formal operational. (age 11+ - adolescence and adulthood) the ability to think about abstract concepts, and logically test hypotheses
   Although Piaget didn't develop his theory with education specifically in mind but its often linked and applied to education. I wanted to do some initial research into Piaget and educational theories because I think it would be interesting for me to explore the links between cognitive development and artistic thinking and growth. Discovery learning – the idea that children learn best through doing and actively exploring - was seen as central to the transformation of the primary school curriculum and inspired by Piaget's research and relates directly to the ideas I want to explore in terms of creative education.

initial research for study task 1

- research art therapy *

-  research local community art institutions *

- look into examples of local events *

- research community art projects 

- research piaget *

- research kolb *

- look into fundng and the goverment *

- start reading some of the books I picked up from the library today

what is community art?

Community arts, also sometimes known as "dialogical art", "community-engaged" or "community-based art," refers to artistic activity based in a community setting. Works from this genre can be of any media and is characterized by interaction or dialogue with the community.

The community arts movement is inspired by social justice activism and is grounded in the principle of cultural democracy. Community art is often used as a tool for stimulating dialogue, for documenting community-rooted narratives and for encouraging self-empowerment.

Community art is a practice that believes the production of arts a social activity that expresses people’s lived experience. Community art, by its very nature. has no common aesthetic standard. The aesthetic of this art is fundamentally grounded in its content and its culture. It is a language of self-representation or self-collaboration through which an individual or a group confirms its identity. Community can be defined as a demographic community, social community or community of interest.

– Published in: Naming A Practice: Curatorial Strategies for the Future, Walter Phillips Gallery Editions, The Banff Centre (quote on page 195).

what is art therapy?

a form of psychotherapy involving the encouragement of free self-expression through painting, drawing, or modelling, used as a remedial or diagnostic activity.

Definition: Art therapy is a form of expressive therapy that uses the creative process of making art to improve a person’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being. The creative process involved in expressing one’s self artistically can help people to resolve issues as well as develop and manage their behaviors and feelings, reduce stress, and improve self-esteem and awareness.

Art therapists are professionals trained in both art and therapy. They are knowledgeable about human development, psychological theories, clinical practice, spiritual, multicultural and artistic traditions, and the healing potential of art

doing this breif initial reseach I've realised art therapy is quite different to community art in the sense it demands a much higher qualification specifically in psychology. art therapy is often more hospital and healthcare focused, dealing with specific patients wheras communnity art is usually more linked to community groups or spaces like womens groups or museums and schools.

spaces in Leeds:

heartcentre - community art space
pyramid of arts - runs arts groups for people with and without learning disabilities 
east st arts - community arts charity
inkwell arts - Charity-run multi-arts centre with cafe
leeds museums trust - various organisations across leads running family craft activities and other events

questions to think about

-how are art and the brain linked
-how does art shape the way you think?
-how can art transform mood and outlook?
-how is art related to emotion and expression?

useful websites and links for community art

research
http://apionline.org/community-arts-network/
http://www.arttherapyblog.com/what-is-art-therapy/#.Wckgq2hSy00

organistaions
http://pyramid-of-arts.org.uk/
https://www.heartcentre.org.uk/
http://eaststreetarts.org.uk/about/

COP2 study task 1

Study Task 1 - Establishing A Research Question

todays actvity:

• I tried to include a range of my interests and explore a few options/directions for my research question this year
• the main theme is community art and the relationship between art and personal growth.
• the other direction I would consider is environment and nature, but I feel like community arts are more linked to my practice and that I could carry out the best research by focusing on this topic.

Page

final research mind map: