SAAW: Embodied Learning

Our next Share, Adapt, Adopt workshop, run in partnership with the TIPS community takes place Thursday March 17th 1pm-2pm and will provide an introduction to the intriguing concept of Embodied Learning. The term refers to pedagogical approaches that focus on the non-mental factors involved in learning, and that signal the importance of the body and feelings. The event has been curated by Charlie Dannreuther (POLIS), and features a number of short presentations from Charlie himself, Suzanne Young, Scott McLaughlin, Anna Douglas, and Madeleine Le Bourdon. More details below are listed below, and you can sign up here.

 

Scott McLaughlin: Being in the space: teaching artistic practice

The teaching or artistic practice across all domains has long valorised the co-presence of teacher and student(s) in physical proximity to each other and ‘the work’, and also the fact of embodied materiality being so central to practice. The digital pivot (even without COVID) presents serious challenges to this model but also opportunities, both of which we will discuss.

 

Charlie Dannreuther: Capturing Brilliance 

Universities have traditionally focused on the evaluation of individual excellence in the awarding of module grades. Such a focus rewards excellent performance against stated module learning objectives, often defined in relation to established paradigms of thought. By focusing on place, sensory experiences and proximity we are able to widen the opportunity for student expression, critical innovation and engaged learning.

 

Madeleine:Le Bourdon: Sensorial learning experience

This presentation will explore the role of the senses in creating safe and inclusive learning environments. Using findings from research within Global Education, Madeleine will demonstrate how shared sensorial experience can build trust, bonds and safe learning communities, which allow for deeper critical discussions.

 

Suzanne Young: The Value of In Person Teaching

Suzanne will reflect on the importance of physical space in learning and teaching from both the educator viewpoint and the student experience. With a specific focus on lectures, this presentation will put forward the argument that we should not abandon large scale lectures altogether, but rather reimagine how we can use the space more effectively.

Anna Douglas: Playing together

Anna will reflect on the importance of physical space, student multi-sensory relationality and proximity in developing a studio-centred, collaborative (teacher/student) learning environment. Her first year project (Togetherness) was designed to encourage fine art students to model innovative methods of responding to uncertainty, and engagement and relating to ‘the other’, as well as to experience and validate their own embodied experiences and knowledges creatively together.