Visual arts teachers making art – a qualitative study of strengthening the emotional and social skills Through visual arts activities

Abstract

The teaching profession can be challenging. It depends on each individual how they deal with challenges in the work environment, in communicating with colleagues and pupils, and how successful they are in solving various problems. In the study, we were interested in how four female visual arts teachers understand and become aware of the specifics of emotional and social skills in their own life situations through visual arts products. The research took place over three months during twelve meetings. The study revealed that visual arts teachers understand emotional and social skills as specific tools with which they recognise their emotions and needs and the ability to empathise with others. Within the visual arts solutions, teachers most often pointed to the content they associate with recognising one’s own thoughts, feelings, and values and how they influence one’s response. In the visual arts solutions, the least content was related to building and maintaining positive and stable relationships with different people and groups. This study confirms that individuals, through their activity and their own strengthening of social and emotional skills, can make a decisive contribution to the development of personal strength, an active and responsible attitude towards themselves and their lives.

Keywords

• In-service teacher
• therapeutic experiences
• reflections
• role of one’s own emotional and social abilities
• personal situations
• self-help