​Current Art Ed Research

A Professional Journey of Research and Practice
Using Prior Research to Inform Culturally Relevant Pedagogies

Targeted Multicultural & Social Justice Curricular Projects

Click here for more examples of prior research 

Hmong Symbols Project |  2012-Current | Art Methods

This integrated art project began with research at the middle school level with both Hmong and non-Hmong students as a way to connect all students to Hmong New Year. It evolved into an art methods curricular project for university SOE students to engage with cross-cultural art and literacy connections while participating in critical aspects of Hmong history and important representational Eastern cultural symbols (2012-current).

African American Hero Portrait Project | 2012-Current | Art Methods

The African American Hero Portrait Project began as a Black History Month collaboration with School District of La Crosse African American liaison, Dempsey Miller in 2012. It continues to be explored by University SOE students enrolled in art methods. The project invites engagement with historic African American role models through the art of portraiture and collaboration.

Addressing Social Issues | Installation Art | Creating Community  | 2012-Current | Art Methods

This Kara Walker inspired project began as part of a school-wide "Anti-bullying" initiative at Logan Middle School.  The first year students tried to sabotage the work. By the next year, dozens of students were asking to participate in collaborating and making work. The project has evolved into University art methods curricular study inviting future teachers to collaborate to engage viewers in the narrative of a contemporary social issue deemed underrepresented yet communally important. Emphases are placed on addressing social issues relevant to student groups and school culture

CLS Mini Printmaking Grant, "Why Art Matters in Education" | Spring Semester 2018 | Art Methods

This project was funded by a CLS Mini Grant aimed toward having SOE students explore the importance of art in education. Students explored interdisciplinary themes while learning about the historic process of inking and printing using a small printing press.

Technology as New Media in Art Curriculum

Creative Imperatives | UW - La Crosse  | Spring Semester 2018

Collaboration between the Pump House Regional Arts Center's VR Outreach Program and UW-La Crosse, offering participants the opportunity to explore VR Drawing using an Oculus Rift.

Pump House VR EDU Outreach Pilot Program | LDI Virtual Reality Sculpting & 3-D Printing Furniture Design Project |   Hands-on Experience for Secondary Methods Art Education Students 

Collaboration between the Pump House Regional Arts Center's VR Outreach Program and Dr. Maggie McHugh at the La Crosse Design Institute. Dr. McHugh's students utilized the Oculus Rift and the VR app "Medium" to design and 3-D print to scale furniture for a design and mathematics STEAM project. Secondary Methods Art Education students were also able to attend a special Virtual Reality drawing event at the Pump House and were filmed and interviewed by the la Crosse Tribune for a feature story.

e-book Creation of Curricular Content in Art | Animation | Fall 2017

​Secondary Art Methods students develop an interactive e-book for using as an introduction to animation for Middle School curriculum and published it to the iTunes bookstore for use with iPads 

LPEF Grant for a new media, "Producers' Space" in the art room | Spring 2018 

Partnership Program with Longfellow Middle School & Logan High School Art Departments as well as students in Art Methods 

Future Agenda

 Partnering to Develop a 21st Century Conceptual Framework in Art Education
Building a Culturally Relevant Pedagogy and Integrating Tech as Critical New Media in Art Education

Research

  • Identify key areas of research and data collection | critical need for contemporary Art Ed conceptual framework (as noted above) to address lack of diverse perspectives and declining interest and values of Art Ed in k-12 and Higher Education
  • Work with University mentor on fine tuning research practices
  • Attend/ participate in annual AERI (Art Ed Research Institute) conference
  • Utilize CATL Office and resources
  • Travel in the future to advocate for Art Education and grow professionally

University Partners

  • Office of Diversity and Inclusion
  • Multicultural Student Services
  • Social Justice Institute | Social Justice Week
  • Office of International Studies
  • Widening the Circle
  • Latina Community | UWL History Professor, Victor Macias-Gonzales
  • Creative Imperatives
  • Art & SOE Departments |  conceptual framework development & adoption

Peer Reviewed Publication(s) & Writing

  • Previously published articles relating to art advocacy, policy, digital art, developing art podcasts, how to write a press release, 2011-2014 | e-Art Times - WAEA (Wisconsin Art Education Association), state, quarterly journal for members
  • Submit Research-related article to national and international peer reviewed journals such as: "Art Education - The Journal of the National Art Education Association" and "IJEA - International Journal of Education & the Arts"

Targeted Art Ed Student Recruitment and Retention

  • VAC (Visual Arts Classic High School Art Competition) as a recruitment opportunity for future art education majors 
  • Continue to partner with SOE Recruitment Specialist, Mai Chao Duddeck on events and programs such as, "SOE Day"
  • Mentor an "Art Ed Student Group" and provide resources and enrichment opportunities
  • Travel to High Schools and/or college fairs to offer presentations on Art Education program 

21st Century Art Methods

  • Continue to collaborate with other faculty, (currently Amoreena Rathke) on development of culturally responsive curriculum as well as contemporary methods in Art Education and Art Integration (ART302, ART401, and ART403)
  • Targeted integration of technology as an important new media in Art Education and Art Integration 
  • New practices in flipped classroom approaches, choice-based methods (such as TAB) as well as performance-based assessment models

Community Outreach

  • Virtual Reality Drawing/Sculpting Outreach Program with UW-L Art Ed Students, Pump House Regional Arts Center | Cameron Segura, Rachel Ausman, and Toni Asher
  • Ho-Chunk Youth & Learning Center | Three Rivers House | Elizabeth Digby
  • Hmong Cultural Center
  • Area Schools and/or School Programs of Interest
  • Area and State District Art Supervisors and Policymakers to Develop Culturally Responsive Resources and Policies

Professional Connections

  • ​Connections to national and international artists with work addressing social and global themes (Graduate School peers) | possible visiting artists to UW - La Crosse
  • Connections to University Art Education faculty around the U.S. (Graduate School peers)
  • Connections to K-12 Art Educators (local, state, and national) 
  • Ties to the Pump House Regional Arts Center, WAEA (Wisconsin Art Education Associate). and SCLA (Student Centered Learning in the Arts