The Arts as Strategy or the Arts as Process? : A Comparison of Two Learning Approaches in Religious Education in the Catholic Primary School

This study examined differences in understanding of Christian values between two groups of children experiencing two different learning approaches in religious education in the Catholic primary school. One learning approach used the arts as strategy. In it children expressed themselves discursively through worksheet activities: colouring in pre-designed pictures and completing written sentences, paragraphs or crossword puzzles. The other approach was learning through the arts as process. In this approach children expressed themselves non-discursively through their creative products: paintings, play dough modelling and construction scenarios. Each group comprised 30 subjects who were in Year 5, and whose ages ranged from 9 to 10 years. The groups were divided into subgroups of 15 subjects. Subjects came from two schools and each school produced two types of sub-groups, an arts as strategy sub-group and an arts as process sub-group. All sub-groups were read the same eight stories about Jesus and carried out their respective tasks: subjects of the arts as strategy sub-groups completed the same worksheet on each story, while subjects in the arts as process sub-groups explored the meaning of each story through an art form. Stories were designated a specific art activity beforehand: painting, modelling or construction. Subjects were questioned about their work from a standardised questioning format for each group. The responses were audio taped and became the qualitative data in the study. Quantitative data were the responses to the pre-tests and post-tests, administered orally to each subject before and after treatment. The pre-test and post-test instrument was the same but the tests were marked differently. That is, the tests covered subjects\u27 perceptions of Jesus’ values, how he showed what they were and why he thought they were important; and only values and specific actions of Jesus contained in the eight stories were accepted at post-test. Verbal protocols in each response were analysed and allocated to the categories of characteristics, values, actions of Jesus, and other, in accordance with the Evaluation Procedures in Appendix B. Quantitative results showed that both groups improved significantly over the treatment period. Subjects of the arts as strategy group showed a significant improvement in their understanding of Christian values between pre-test (M = 4.172) and post-test (M = 5.172), t(28) = 4.20, p \u3c .001. Subjects of the arts as process group also showed a significant improvement in their understanding between pre-test ( M = 4.033) and post-test (M = 5.433), t(29) = 4.58, p = \u3c .001. But a comparison of the two groups showed that they did not differ significantly at post-test, F( 1,56) = 1.04, p \u3e .05. Therefore, although both groups improved significantly, it was found that the difference in learning approach did not generate a significant difference between the children\u27s level of understanding of Christian values at post-test. However, an evaluation of qualitative data suggested that the difference in learning approach produced a qualitative difference in children\u27s responses. From a comparison of qualitative data, a conclusion was drawn that the arts as process group showed a wider range of perceptions of Christian values inherent in the stories, than did the arts as strategy grou

Comparing the European and the Southeast Asian Response to Global Terrorism

This article examines the mechanisms for combating global terrorism which emerged in Europe and Southeast Asia in the aftermath of 11 September, the Bali bombing, the two Jakarta bombings, and the Madrid train bombings. The article argues that, despite various attempts at crafting a common security framework in each region, the most successful examples of counter-terrorism and anti-terrorism cooperation thus far have been at the bilateral and trilateral levels. In balancing between national security priorities and multilateral cooperative arrangements, the main difference between the European and Southeast Asian approach comes from the different ways in which the terrorist threat is perceived. While the European reaction is determined by the acknowledgement of a “common external threat,” the Southeast Asian response is based on the recognition of a “common internal threat.” Such divergence of perspectives invariably nuances the scope of national and regional initiatives in each case scenario. These are further reinforced by the ideational and operational modalities of each regional community (EU and ASEAN)

In defence of FTAs : from purity to pragmatism in East Asia

This paper discusses the shift in East Asia from a focus on multilateral trade liberalization through the WTO to a pragmatic approach since 1999 favouring bilateral and regional FTAs while continuing to support the WTO system. It is argued that such FTAs are a second-best option compared to WTO agreements. However, while economists may seek the ideal solution, governments will focus on the politically attainable, especially as new multilateral agreements require lengthy negotiations beyond the life span of governments. As the WTO negotiating process has become bogged down, even once sceptical governments in East Asia are turning to FTAs. It is contended that such FTAs could form a lattice network within and across regions. In this context, the paper discusses the underlying security rationale for the conclusion of FTAs, highlighting the nexus between security interests and international economic policy in East Asia

Is the ASEAN charter necessary?

As the annual ASEAN foreign ministers meeting convenes starting this week (July 17-24), one key issue expected to come under the spotlight is the ASEAN Charter. Has the Charter lived up to expectations since its adoption in Singapore last year

Indo-Pacific or Asia-Pacific: forging a new power balance?

The US, Japan, India and the EU need to work with China to manage the challenges posed by a rising power while recognising China’s different perspectives. Together, the major powers need to foster a new great power equilibrium in the Asia-Pacific.Published versio

Rising China Confronts Maritime Southeast Asia

China’s rejection of the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling on its expansive claim to the South China Sea has set itself up for confrontation with maritime states in Southeast Asia. It will also heighten tensions within ASEAN

Yasukuni shrine and museum: Japan’s WW2 responsibility

While the Yasukuni shrine memorialises Japan’s war dead its accompanying museum gives a revisionist view of Japan’s responsibility for the Second World War that is troubling

Islam and society in South-East Asia after 11 September

The terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001, the ensuing war in Afghanistan and the recent revelations of the existence of al-Qaeda networks in South-East Asia have drawn attention to the challenge posed by radical Islamic ideologies to global and regional security. It appears to validate Samuel Huntington's 'clash of civilizations' thesis that there is an inevitable conflict between Islam and the West. This is a mistaken view. The uncritical acceptance of such a perspective risks the adoption of self-fulfilling US policies which undermine US relationships with states having Muslim majorities, increases the likelihood of a crescent of instability from the Middle East to South-East Asia and fosters hostility towards the United States and the West by Muslims around the globe