The role of arts education in academic motivation, engagement and achievement

  This recently completed ARC funded research project investigated the links between arts participation and academic motivation, engagement and achievement using school, home and community arts predictors of both academic and non-academic outcomes. The first quantitative strand of the research included fifteen schools and 643 primary and secondary school students. The quantitative findings informed the qualitative phase with the selection of five case study schools with strong correlations between school arts participation and high academic outcomes. The case studies explored the student-level and teacher-level processes and practices that underpinned effective learning in eight classes comprising visual arts, dance, drama, film and music. The findings were drawn from the analysis of real-time student PDA data, classroom observations, interviews and focus groups. This presentation pays particular attention to the cognitive, affective and behavioral aspects of ‘engagement' and how these were supported by the pedagogical strategies used by the teachers in quality arts classrooms. It also discusses the significance of these findings for educational policy and practice in the arts.