DESCRIPTION OF THE CONTEXT

A sociocultural profile is a description of a setting. Educators use it to understand the context [situation] of a particular school problem.

1. Describe the society: racial and class makeup of the community.

2. Describe the economic situation: What is the major industry? Town size (large metropolis, small rural, suburban)? Type of school: elementary, high school, vocational, unified school? Large or small school population? Is school highly rated?

3. Describe the source of funding: school district, hourly rate, studio fees? Amount of funds spent per child for art? (typical is $4.00 per child in elementary art). Does the teacher consider this ample? Does the teacher suggest more? What does the teacher do to supplement funds? Fund-raising?

ADD: Describe the classroom and facilities. You may add a spacemap for extra credit). Ask the instructor how he/she feels about the space and facilities (poor, adequate, ample, exceptional) How would you improve it?

PARTICIPANTS

Participants are members of the research study and include: the researcher, the teacher, students [some students become key informants], and any other class observers [e.g. another teacher, principal, student teachers].

1. Describe the teacher: Teacher's degrees, years of experience in general and in this school? Teacher's art specialty? Do you notice that he/she tends to teach this area more?

2. Interview the teacher and describe his/her strengths and weaknesses according to him/her. Possibilities: talks too much, late for class, teaches only from his/her desk, does his/her own work in class. [You may find more evidence later.]

3. Describe the teaching philosophy according to him/her? (laissez-faire, directorial, facilitator, managerial, dogmatic, authoritarian, democratic, Socratic, joker, actor, sarcastic, magician, other). Refer to John Michael's (1983) chapter on teaching style.

4. Describe the teaching schedule and length of class. Is there enough time?

5. What other duties does the instructor have? Extracurricular? How does the instructor promote/advocate art education? (Art contests, arts council member, art shows, school board member, Youth Arts month, other).

6. Describe the students: Class size, number of males and females, race of students in this class? Interview three students [use pre questionnaire in my study] about art concepts (beliefs and attitudes), art preferences, art background, attitude towards teacher and art room]. THIS GOES INTO STUDENT PROFILE SECTION.