Art Education Online: Teaching and Learning Through Communities of Practice and DIY

Abstract

With millions of users, the social media site Pinterest compels the exchange of information about diverse topics. The do-it-yourself (DIY) content community has risen to prominence on Pinterest in recent years as users frequently consult the site to begin new projects. On Pinterest, DIY communities exchange tips and cocreate generative knowledge about techniques, processes, and design ideas. Addressing the lack of access to formal art education and the prevalence of social media usage as a tool in higher art education, this research uses mixed methods to examine new forms of education catalyzed by Pinterest outside traditional academic contexts. Using these methods, the Pinterest-DIY Data Set was analyzed with observations of undergraduate art education students’ usage of Pinterest to discover how the site can provide new avenues for art education. The research revealed that preferred DIY projects involve low-cost endeavors made from repurposed materials, suggesting engagement with Pinterest can promote creative adaptation.