Mario Bottinelli Montandon
Teoria e pratica per favorire le competenze didattiche e artistiche
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Mario Bottinelli Montandon is a senior lecturer and researcher in the Department of Education and Learning / University of Teacher Education and head of the Visual Education and Fine Arts Teaching Division, where he coordinates training, research, and service activities in the arts. He is also the director of the MAS in Visual Arts Education, a program designed to strengthen the relationship between theory and practice through learning situations grounded in real-world contexts, design activities, case studies, and authentic tasks.
What are the main challenges faced by today’s teachers of visual and plastic arts, and how can the MAS in Visual and Plastic Arts Education provide useful tools to help them address these challenges effectively?
One of the main challenges lies in integrating the pedagogical and didactic aspects of a generalist teacher’s role with the subject-specific aspects related to artistic languages. This dialogue, while not always straightforward, is nonetheless essential to ensuring continuity in learning pathways between the second and third cycles—that is, between elementary school and middle school. The MAS addresses this complexity through a curriculum that combines technical-creative workshops and professional practice, fostering the integrated development of teaching and artistic skills.
What are the strengths of this program?
The course is characterized by a balance between theoretical foundations and practical application. The approach adopted highlights the unique characteristics of educational contexts and fosters the teacher’s ability to observe, interpret, and manage complex situations. It is therefore not a matter of transmitting predefined models, but of developing reflective and context-specific skills. In short, it is a program that helps develop a greater awareness of the educational value of artistic languages and their role in creating inclusive learning environments.
Are there any connections between education and the local community?
The MAS in Visual Arts Education is closely tied to the Ticino region. Professional practice takes place within elementary schools and is based on professional learning communities, where planning and reflection occur collaboratively. Furthermore, the program stems from a collaboration between SUPSI (Department of Education and Learning / University of Teacher Education / Department of Environment, Construction, and Design), the DECS (SeSCo), and other institutional and cultural partners, ensuring strong roots in the local educational system. Finally, the program involves a comprehensive network of stakeholders, including professional practice instructors (DPP), subject matter experts, educational institutions, museums, and foundations—synergies that foster opportunities, dialogue, and collaboration among professionals in the field.
And what about the applied research conducted at SUPSI?
Yes, and it is essential. In the field of art education, teaching is closely linked to research. The MAS program fosters this aspect of expertise through the thesis project, a research-in-action initiative based on real classroom situations, which participants develop at the end of their second year of study.
What do participants in this continuing education program have to say?
The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. The structure of the course content is clearly outlined from the outset, and it is precisely this three-part modular format that attracts prospective students. In particular, the art workshops are appreciated for their experiential nature: the active and sustained engagement with materials, techniques, and diverse approaches drawn from the respective workshop disciplines (textiles, graphic arts and painting, construction, sculpture…) make the experience of this MAS perhaps unique.