A descriptive analysis of sculptural and instructional results from a self-directed approach employed in a fiber sculpture workshop: for first year sculpture students.

Abstract

The purpose of the self-directed fiber sculpture workshop was to investigate the creative growth and development present in the fiber sculpture work of first year sculpture students. The artistic success levels of originality, artistic quality, creative growth and development, and overall artistic success would be assessed through a three member panel of experts. The workshop atmosphere was student oriented. The participants in the workshop were ten first year sculpture students who had no prior experience with fiber as a three-dimensional media. The self-directed instructional method emphasized a non-traditional approach to the student's role, teacher's role, and classroom environment. The problem-solving assignment designed for the fiber sculpture workshop was for each student to create their own fiber sculpture piece. The data collected during the workshop were slides taken of each student's project, which then were evaluated by the three member panel of experts. The data were statistically analyzed through the use of the Kendall Coefficient of Concordance: W. Analysis showed that the self-directed instructional approach had no significant effect on the creative characteristics of artistic quality, and creative growth and development. The self-directed instructional approach had a significant effect on the creative characteristics of originality and overall artistic success.