Hop to it: participate in interactive arts survey these school holidays

As the Easter school holidays begin across Australia and children enjoy a well-deserved break from their studies, CQUniversity arts researcher Dr Linda Lorenza is encouraging families to utilise some of this free time to participate in an important research study aimed at identifying how arts learning can help children re-engage with school education.

Students of all ages and parents can participate in the primary arts learning online survey, which is now open and closes Thursday, 6 May 2023.

Scan the QR code below to participate:

Dr Lorenza said the school holidays were the perfect time for parents to complete the fun and interactive survey alongside their children.

“For participating primary students, the survey will be able to audio record responses so we can hear their experiences without these young students feeling pressure to write or type their responses,” Dr Lorenza explained.

Launched in collaboration with Dr Don Carter from the University of Technology Sydney, the study aims to demonstrate the positive impact of arts learning on students' self-esteem, socialisation skills, and reduction of stress and anxiety.

Dr Lorenza said results from the national survey, which is targeted at primary-aged students, their teachers and their parents/caregivers, will help identify, explore and evaluate the perspectives of online arts learning experiences.

“The study will help us to discover where socialisation occurred in online arts learning from the student, parent and teacher perspective,” Dr Lorenza explained.

“We will learn how the participants see these online experiences linking with face-to-face arts learning, and providing opportunities for enhanced socialisation and interpersonal communication, reducing anxiety and stress and improving students’ well-being and self-esteem.”

To help support this important research, the study was awarded an Emerging Priorities Program (EPP) grant valued at $190,631.

Established by the Australian Government Department of Education, the EPP funds projects that assist school communities to respond to emerging priorities in school education, including to meet the ongoing challenges of COVID-19.