Multimedia courseware for teaching the visual art component of the creative arts in Ghanaian basic schools

Abstract

The teaching of Creative Arts in Ghanaian Basic Schools is faced with numerous challenges which negatively affect lesson preparation and delivery. This study was conducted to find out the availability of approved and relevant Creative Arts curriculum content for use in the design and development of a user-friendly Multimedia Courseware for Teaching Creative Arts in Ghanaian Basic Schools. Qualitative Research Methodology and Art-Based Research Design approaches were employed for the study. The study employed a purposive sampling technique to select twenty-one respondents out of an accessible population of one hundred and twenty-six. Data gathered from the pre-production investigations provided the basis for a rigorous studio work which resulted in an attractive and user-friendly multimedia courseware for the teaching of Creative Arts in Ghanaian Basic Schools. The creation of multimedia courseware followed systematic studio practices which involved a careful deployment of various technological equipment, relevant software and a skillful crew. The study revealed that, when relevant and approved contents are used to design and develop a user-friendly multimedia courseware for Creative Arts teachers, they will acquire the relevant knowledge and skills useful for the preparation and delivery of lessons with much ease and confidence. This implies that Creative Arts teachers’ effective performances are largely dependent on the kind of training they acquire and the availability of relevant and approved course contents. Finally, suggestions and recommendations have been made to train and also design Creative Arts courses to enhance the teaching and learning of Creative Arts in Ghanaian Basic Schools.