Putting Humanistic Research into Perspective: A discovery-oriented approach to life-long learning
“What is it like for you?” This is the strength of humanistic research. The humanistic perspective starts with the point of view of people’s everyday lived experiences; my research looks at the human dimensions that get lost in the didactic world. Research that considers the current and ever-changing perceptions on the everyday lived experience gives us a chance to document life in inclusive ways, from observing and reporting on the very subtle, transitory elements of life, to the dramatic underpinnings that make us tick.
This unique approach to expressive arts education is illustrated through a multiplicity of art forms in Lanie Bergin’s ambitious project “Expressive Arts for the Whole Child Left Behind: The Benefits and Effects of an Expressive Arts Curriculum.” Lanie engages in movement, drawing, creative writing, video production and scholarly writing to describe her curriculum. Moving and still video images bring complex concepts and theories to life for the reader. Through these creative practices, Lanie provides rich documentation of her heuristic research. She has expressed complex ideas, often about non-verbal knowing and learning in clear, academic language -at the same time, she remains strongly connected to her intuitive, body-based knowledge that guides her skillful facilitation of art-based learning activities with children and adults. Simultaneously, she educates the general public and, importantly, those in conventional educational settings, about the principles and benefits of expressive arts education and theory for personal development.
Elisabeth Osgood-Campbell, M.A., Ed.M., Harvard Graduate School of Education, Mind, Brain and Education, 2013
Click here for excerpt
For information about how to see the full-length publication, click here.
Using Video
At Expressive Arts Oregon we employ video for a variety of purposes, including:
- reflection
- research
- documentation
- training
The samples below are from our work with children and adults and much of it comes out of the Whole Child Left Behind project – a documentary currently in production.
For more about our publication, Whole Child Left Behind (which includes more videos) click here for ordering information.
Art Story
Length: 3:38 minutes
Description: In this segment Lanie explains the progression through a seven-week program with a group of elementary school EXA Kids. Sometimes the clearest lessons come when life puts up the strongest resistance to the art of learning.
This video is good to watch if you’re interested in:
– EXA Kids
– Professional Development
For information about how to see the full-length publication, click here.
Mythmaker’s Portfolio
Length: 3 minutes
Description: In a variety of unique ways, EXA Kids develop a series of drawings/stories that become the heart of their mythmaker’s portfolio.
This video is good to watch if you’re interested in:
– EXA Kids
– Art as education, social and emotional development and therapy
