The Construction of Learning and Teaching in a Sculpture Studio Class

Abstract

Teaching and learning to make art are complex cognitive, affective, and physical processes that take place through individual and social exploration of material, form, and con- cepts. This qualitative study is a holistic investigation of a college-level introductory direct-metal sculpture studio class as a complex interactive sociocultural system in which elements such as the environment, personal characteristics, course structure, and social interactions provide constraints and opportunities for teaching and learning. Foundational, studio, and critical phases over an academic quarter are examined in relationship to how and what the professor communicated and to ways that students interacted with information, materials, and other people.