Arts-Based Exploration of Learning I
“If you don’t know what a wing is, and how its made, you can draw it.
And then you’ll know.”
Juan, aged 7
(from Karen Gallas,
The Languages of Learning)
In this course our interests in using experiences with the arts as learning resources require that you resist much of what our culture has taught you about art—and particularly our collective obsession with the thing that is made, be it a dance, a short story, a painting… rather than the process ofmaking itself. Instead of focusing on and evaluating the “product” of your creative efforts, we invite you to focus your attention on the experiences you are undergoing as you pay deeper attention to the world around you, to the connections between things, and to what these experiences mean to you. We are interested in your learning.
The kinds of learning processes we are referring to are equally alive as you are making things yourself or, as Dewey observed, when you are having “aesthetic” experiences with the works of others. In both cases the creator of new meanings is YOU, as you make connections between your personal history, your values and ways of seeing… and the experiences you are undergoing. Our approach to teaching through the arts is not about telling you what things should mean. Our concerns in the course are about what experiences with the arts mean to you, and how you may draw on these experiences to explore, expand and express what you are learning.
With all of this in mind, we invite you to pause this week and explore what you have learned so far in the course. We are interested in what has surprised you. We are interested in what may (or may not) have changed in your understanding of (dis)ability, your understanding of the cultural worlds in which the ideas of ability and disability are created, and your understanding of your own perceptions and beliefs. So, instead of our weekly Exploration and DWL assignments (but we DO want you to complete the Encounter experiences for this week!), we would like you to undertake an arts-based exploration of your learning in the course so far. Here are some guidelines for this “Arts-Based Exploration of Learning” (ABEL) of your experiences in the course so far:
Part I
Imaginative Foundation Free Write (15 points): Write a brief descriptive reflection (paragraph of 3-5 sentences) focused on these questions:
What are the most important experiences you have had in the course related to the construct of “(dis)ability”?
What do these experiences mean to you, personally? How have these ideas and experiences impacted the way you view your own life, your history and positionality, particularly within school settings?
What new questions are arising for you?
Part II
Collage: Exploring and inquiring with images and compositions. (15 points): In this part of the assignment we invite you to delve into the world of visual composition and storytelling through collage. Take one or more of the experiences you’ve described in your Part I reflection and explore them further through a collage of visual and narrative elements. These steps may be helpful:
Collect visual elements: Begin by collecting a variety of images and other visual elements that resonate with the reflections you’ve written in Part I. These images can be photographs, illustrations, clippings or any visual representations you find compelling. Don’t buy anything…searching and finding pieces that can work for you is part of the process—and one that very often itself leads to new insights and ideas.
Collage Creation: Using the collected visuals, play with different ways of putting them together that visually explore and represent what matters to you about your experiences. You have the creative freedom (and encouragement!) to arrange and combine these elements in a way that tells a story or conveys emotions. Consider the ways composition, symbolism, and color may help you convey the essence of your chosen experience. Think about how each element contributes to your message. Think about how the elements visually relate to one another.
Here are some resources that may jump-start your thinking:
https://arl.human.cornell.edu/PAGES_Delft/Collage_deeper.pdf
https://www.creativebloq.com/features/7-things-to-consider-when-creating-a-collage
Part III
Analysis, Reflection, Commentary (20 points)
Creative Reflection: In a paragraph, describe your collage and how it relates to your experiences in the course so far. Explain your choices about the symbolism, colors, composition, and imagery used and how they convey the essence of your experience.
Learning about Learning: In a second paragraph, comment on what you learned through this activity about your own learning:
How did this activity affect your thinking about or more issues related to (dis)ability, education and the arts?
Comment on what you learned about art making as a resource for exploring and articulating your ideas and experiences.
