Online Virtual Classes

This study intends to explore the success of virtual classes in the visual arts for middle school and high school age students. At this time, there are few studies available to use as a rigorous basis when looking at the viability of these classes. Very little of the research conducted to date on online learning deals with the visual arts, and the majority of those that have looked at the arts, look at the blended learning experience. Making art is the midpoint between imagination and reality, therapeutic, and a way to complete one’s soul. It is both the question and answer to “why”. It is a necessary part of an artists’ life and needed to nurture the imagination and the collective soul of mankind. It is good for your health, lowers anxiety and depression, and improves satisfaction with your life (Cuypers et al., 2012). The findings of this study will have meaningful implications for not only students but the programs that offer the virtual classes in the visual arts, as well as those who are new to the virtual school teaching experience and those who are currently teaching. Understanding the pitfalls and advantages of the online learning experience, and what hurdles may need to be overcome for a successful learning outcome, will help ensure that our students receive the necessary tools to develop into creative adults who are able …show more content…
The delimitations of this paper will be my being the only person being studied, with all information being collected during the time spanning December of 2011 to September of 2014. Interactions with the students happened online through email or chat, and the interactions with the other teachers were primarily online, with a once a month mandatory face-to-face meeting. During the meetings the interactions were in general with other instructors working in your content area, so contact was limited, although occasional whole group discussions allowed exchanges between instructors in the different subject