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Stringing pearls from teardrops : an autobiographcial account of attention deficit disorder

University of British Columbia

This thesis seeks to frame an approach to attention deficit disorder that centers on the individual in an educational context, be it student, teacher, or researcher. Through arts based inquiry and autoethnography, the question of how attention deficit disorder affects one teacher in her classroom, including her relationships with students, her approach to subject matter and curriculum, and her views of herself as a whole person with the symptoms indicative of attention deficit disorder, and a strong creative inclination, is investigated. Using evocative personal narrative, autobiography, and art making to explore self this teacher opens up a personal dialogue that reveals insights and understandings of attention deficit that were hidden prior to her undertaking the research. In addition to a review of literature on the subject of creativity and ADD in an educational setting, the researcher discusses how she comes to an acceptance and understanding of her sensitivity as a component of attention deficit, and therefore, self. She recognizes sensitivity as an asset that adds to her experience in the classroom and in her life. She also embraces her attention deficit as an attribute that leads her to be creative in the everyday experience of teaching.

Thesis/Dissertation

application/pdf

2009-11-20

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http://hdl.handle.net/2429/15317

Art Education

University of British Columbia

UBCV

DSpace