Ellen Winner - The Psychology of the Arts

The video discusses research on the impact of arts education on standardized test scores, revealing no causal link but a correlational one. The researchers faced backlash for their findings, which challenged the justification of arts education based on test scores. They shifted focus to understanding the unique learning outcomes in visual arts, identifying 'habits of mind' such as observation and reflection. Their framework, published in 'Studio Thinking,' gained widespread adoption, changing the conversation about the value of arts education.

How did the arts education community react to the findings of the research?

What are some of the broad habits of mind that students learn from arts education according to the framework published?

What challenges do the researchers face in assessing the transfer of habits of mind learned in art classes to other subjects?