RESEARCH TOPIC PROPOSAL ABSTRACT

Annette Saldana
LTC 8941
Statement of Problem:
Itinerant teachers face many struggles in strengthening their art curriculum and
programs.
Purpose of the Study:
Why should it be studied?
With more research development art on a cart teachers could discover ways to create
more meaningful lessons, better organize lessons/activities that cover a range of
multiple age groups, and help build upon visual art advocacy.
To whom is the problem relevant?
Itinerant art educators (Also known as traveling, floating, art on a cart, and sometimes
even homeless teachers)
Research Questions and sub questions/Hypothesis:
How are curriculum frameworks affected when art on a cart/travelling art educators do
not have designated studio classroom spaces?
What are the best practices for travelling and art on a cart art educators as they
develop curriculum lesson plans for multiple grade levels?
How might itinerant art teachers use theme-based frameworks to create meaningful K12 curriculum?
How might travelling and art on a cart educators advocate for the Arts through the use
of their constructed curriculum frameworks?
Related Research:
Theoretical Framework:
The topic to be investigated has been constructed in order to further examine the
curriculum challenges and advantages of producing art on a cart curriculums,
connective lesson plan development for diverse age ranges, and classroom activities
that promote advocacy for these types of teaching placements. Literature research
(though lacking in regards to the topic) will be completed in order to obtain more
information based on itinerant teaching positions in art education. Phenomenological
inquiry (both quantitative and qualitative) will be utilized to gain more information about
the perceptions and perspectives of art educators who teach (or have taught) from a
cart.

Key Literature Areas to be included:

-See annotated bibliography for detailed information (on Weebly website)
Key Terms:
-Itinerant Teachers
-Educational Climate
-Big Ideas
-Phenomenological Methodology (for the methodology section of the publication)
Permissions & Protection of Human Rights
Because human subjects will be surveyed and interviewed, IRB permission would be
needed. Consents from participants would be a requirement for publication purposes.
Data Sources:
Quantitative (Statistics and Rankings based on art on a cart teacher population)
Qualitative (Art on a cart perspectives)
Methods and Data Analysis:
Data Collection Resources/Tools-Demographic questions, Likert Scales, Surveys,
Interviews, Observations, Recordings, etc.
Intended Sampling Procedures- The study may lead to collective data gathered from my
own personal reflective practices, and from stakeholders such as teachers, students,
and administrators in schools.
Data Analysis-Phenomenological (ex. collecting qualitative data to contrast/compare
teacher viewpoints and reveal findings)
Time Line:
August 10, 2015 through December 10, 2015
Discussion/Possible Findings:
-Classroom environment (or lack of a designated art classroom space) can have a
direct effect on quality of learning.
-Classroom environment is directly correlated to how an art on a cart teacher designs
their curriculum.
-Many itinerant teachers face challenges and struggles in the development of
meaningful K-12 lesson plans.
-Collaboration and communication is lacking between art teachers and stakeholders.