Art as documentation

How the educational documentation may use forms of artistic production? This study aims to analyse the documentation forms of the educational process using artistic practices. Often art is used in educational institutions, to promote the development of the expressive potential children. Many authors have expressed themselves in this area with different perspectives (Dewey, 1953, 1995, Dallari, 1998, 2005, Francucci, 2014, Francucci, Vassalli, 2005, Munari, 1981, 1984, Stern, 2012, Steiner, 1949). At the same time it increased the need to document these processes and to use the same documents as a form of artistic expression. For this research, we use theoretical multidisciplinary paradigms: art education (Dewey, 1951, Read, 1954), art based research (Sullivan, 2010), pedagogy of early childhood (Dewey, 1949, Edwards, Gandini, Formann, 1995). Referred to the method, the research was conducted with collective case studies (Yin, 1994). We use qualitative approaches with flexible tools to explore the reflective dimension that emerge. All the cases included in the study have been analysed with the consent agreement of services, professionals involved. The conduction of the investigation meets legal precepts with due authorisation of responsible of the children. The consent too was negotiated with the children, seeking respect the uniqueness of each individual involved. The results indicate the need to open a debate on the use of art in educational environments as a documentation tool. The research aim is to allow the recognition, recording a series of practices that choose to use art to make clear the paths of knowledge made by children.