Examining various methods used in the ceramics design courses in the fine arts academies

The purpose of this study is to examining various methods used in the ceramics design courses in the Fine Arts Academies and further research the relationship between the methods used and the personal characteristics of the instructors.The study is performed based on the input provided by instructors who teach ceramics design courses in the ceramics department of sixteen Fine Arts Academies. The data is collected through surveys between 2007-08 academic years. The survey has three sections: demographics; likert type scaled questions on the assessment of various methods used in the ceramics design courses and questions on various factors that impact the methods used in the ceramics design education. The questionnaire constitutes a total of forty questions of which 5 questions in the first section, twenty two questions in the second section and thirteen questions in the last section. The data is analyzed through SPSS 12 statistical analysis.The analysis of the results indicates a standardization of the methods among the instructors teaching ceramics design courses in the ceramics departments of the Fine Arts Academies. It is also found that a minor part of the ceramics instructional methods includes drama and creative drama used in performing arts. Further the results reveal that gender of the instructors play an important role in determining the instructional methods used.