| Abstract [eng] |
This master’s thesis examines the development of a community of practice as a strategy for integrating animation art into general education within the Lithuanian educational context. The study addresses the problem that, in updated general education curricula, the integration of media arts through methodological recommendations is often fragmented, short-term, and lacking sustainable methodological and organizational support. The research focuses on animation art as an interdisciplinary form of media art that connects and enables the development of competencies outlined in general education curricula. The object of the research is the applicability of a community of practice model for integrating animation art into Lithuanian general education. The aim of the study is to develop a community of practice model for the integration of animation art into general education, taking into account the specific characteristics of the Lithuanian education system. The theoretical part of the thesis analyses organizational learning theories, including the concept of the learning organization, the knowledge creation (SECI) model, experiential learning theory, and the concept of communities of practice. Based on these theoretical assumptions, a conceptual model for the integration of animation art was developed. The empirical part of the study employs a qualitative research methodology, using semi-structured interviews with potential members of the community of practice—animation art educators and general education teachers—in order to identify the preconditions and opportunities for forming a community of practice. Deductive thematic analysis was applied to analyse the research results. The empirical findings refined the community of practice model developed in the theoretical part, with a particular emphasis on internal community processes. The research results revealed not only a clear need for a structured community of practice, but also enabled the development and empirical refinement of a community of practice model adapted to the integration of animation art into general education. It was established that the effectiveness of a community of practice depends on internal community processes, including participants’ motivation, active engagement in shared practical activities, mutual learning, organizational support, and purposeful facilitation. The study demonstrated that the interaction of these processes creates the conditions for sustainable professional learning, knowledge creation, and the continuity of animation practices within the school context. Accordingly, the community of practice model developed and refined in this thesis can be applied as a managerial strategy that connects formal and non-formal education and contributes to the integration of animation art into Lithuanian general education. |
