Speaker
Description
This presentation delves into education's pivotal role in preparing future generations for contemporary challenges by questioning the efficacy of traditional pedagogical practices. European education policies underscore competency-based education's importance in fostering personal fulfilment, employability, and lifelong learning commitment. With its experiential nature, art education provides intellectual, emotional, and ethical engagement, making it crucial for addressing present-day issues. The presentation advocates for innovative pedagogical models in teacher training, emphasising the intersection of art education and sustainable development. Drawing from a European-funded project, a distance learning course in art education is examined for its impact on addressing socially significant objectives. The mixed-method evaluation highlights its effectiveness in fostering creativity, empowering participants, and enhancing pedagogical skills. Trainees express satisfaction and newfound confidence in utilising socially engaged arts, acknowledging transformative impacts on understanding and applying art. Implications extend to transforming art education content for sustainability and offering distance learning courses that preserve embodied learning and interpersonal connections in art classrooms.
CV
Victoria Pavlou
Dr. Victoria Pavlou, Professor of Art Education at Frederick University, Cyprus, focuses on the professional development of generalist teachers in art education, children's learning preferences, and creative potential. Passionate about changing attitudes and fostering resilience through art, she connects art with real-life issues and explores synergies between art education and sustainable development. Co-editor of the 'Art, Sustainability and Learning Communities. Call to Action' book (2024) and the 19.1 iJETA special issue (2023), she currently coordinates the European-funded project 'Critical ARts Education for Sustainable Societies' and previously led the project 'Visual arts education in new times: Connecting Art with REal life issues'.
