UNIT X - EDUCATOR: TOPIC: REFLECTION

Z ARTS WORKSHOP

Z ARTS WORKSHOP



DACA WORKSHOP

UNIT X WORKSHOP

POP UP POM POM'S WORKSHOP

POM POM GIRLS
UNIT X TEAM

New experiences I have come across in this unit for me was the collaboration aspect of working together as a group, in your own practices your quite isolated but yet surrounded by others of who you don’t exactly collaborate with. Another new experience was the placement- I openly admit I was not the most enthusiastic pupil and tended to stray away from school of which I could never dream of wanting to step back in one, but in that placement I realised that I would enjoy it- during that 4 week placement I saw different teaching styles to different year groups.. I realised how different teaching is now to when I was at school, the technology used now was way different to what I used and even the students are different to how I was, when I got talking to the students I had to remind them how lucky they were in this generation as I was so jealous that at the age of 12 onwards that they could use MACs, Photoshop, Pinterest, sewing machines, graphics, art history, photography, textiles and even have the experience of them having university students in the school. What I took away from the school is the passion both students and staff had for all of their futures and that subject taught. Each teacher I saw brought their own personality to the table, they teach in the way they found comfortable, they teach on how they learn. Whilst observing they reminded me of Amy Cuddys power poses of the stance and the volume of voices. What I can take away from this unit is the motivation and enjoyment of the area I specialise in and use my knowledge and the technology around me to learn something new. On the teaching side I’m still a bit wary if that could be me when I graduate, I do not want to rule it out but it definitely is something I would consider and having the placement on my CV will bring light to a job as well as having links to the school of even visiting the school again to do more.

My engagement through this unit has been throughout, I have learnt something new every day... of having talk about special needs to talks about programmes available at university and then talks on different kinds of ice breakers to get the workshops going to then the many ways of feedback and how to benefit from constructive feedback. All these quick sessions have given me new ways to look into my practice and develop it more especially the feedback side of how I can ask for specific feedback I’m wanting and different ways to give feedback in a formal and informal way.

I was given the opportunity to produce 3 workshops for very different ages.

Z arts I had most interaction in as being placed in a smaller group, I felt I had more interaction and more involvement on taking it upon myself to have visual imagery for the group to see the workshop in context as well as sharing our responsibility of buying the materials together- for the z arts work shop I would of changed to just using paint and not ink as we had very talented and hyper children that day where ink was on their hands which stained a little, other than that I felt that the activity was suitable for the age group.

Daca being the second placement now, I did have interaction during the idea process as I really went for it bringing ideas to the table of having visual imagery to go by, and once broke down again I had very strong ideas of bike wheels etc. (ambitious?) but when the idea was decided I was relatively happy with the workshop but I felt distracted with it being a continuous talk about what we were doing as others got confused with what the outcome was going to be etc.. so towards the planning stages I wasn’t very interactive or as involved as well as the actual time planning sheet though I volunteered to the dye station as I know about Brusho dyes as I work with them a lot so I would be more helpful with that station than any other but when we had to give each others jobs of when to talk through things I felt left out as it was always the same people talking and not letting anyone else have ago at it, then the same people talking over each other- so I guess I did sit back towards the end, and if I had the opportunity to the workshop again I would of argued the case of having a responsibility of talking. Most of all the group overcame a situation during the upcoming days for the workshop, due to another workshop being cancelled so we had to take on the other group, at first it was a strain as members didn’t want to join the group as they felt bad for us doing all the work so far, and then we as the original group felt more of a strain of having to include them, from how we already had our job roles sorted- once we included the group some members really did take part and came to the group talks whereas two other members really did not want to be part of it and did not respond to any messages.. so as a group we had to discuss where they will be placed in the workshop, what their job roles would be on the day as just TA’s or just taking pictures- so from that hiccup I feel that as a group we became stronger and realised that things don’t always go to plan and you have to negotiate with each other and move forward.

For all the workshops I have faced, it has to be the pop up Pom Pom’s that has really been the most overwhelming and enjoyable experience for me. The girls worked so hard to create a fun workshop. Generally all the group had felt more confident as we had tackled the most difficult workshops- I preferred Unit X workshop for it being catered to adults. I found it much easier to adapt to my surroundings in this workshop, As well as I understood the outcome and I had fun in the process- I introduced the contemporary and the product side to the workshop, which I don’t normally do in my practice until the end, but I found it much easier to work knowing what was producing so I will be taking that forward with me especially during this last year of uni as we are needing to think more of context. 

Reflecting back through this unit I have completed 3 workshops in the space of 7-8 weeks. & it all was/is a great experience to have. 

I have learnt so much from this unit:

- Child protection 

- How to plan a workshop

- Lesson planning

- How to work with people with special needs

- Working with Edlab

- Ways to give and receive feedback

- A workshop for young children (primary age)

- Charities and organisations to gain experience with and from

- Body language 

- A short 10 minute micro teach

- Placement

- Workshop for secondary school children 

- Workshop for adults (UNIT X) 

And all that learning has given me the confidence and awareness of how to work collaboratively and confidently as a team. I had a mix response on my first day of the unit as I was so happy to have a break from my course, I didn't need to do any designs, no boards to show the tutor but it was being placed in a group throughout the whole unit - That was the wary bit, but I overcame my feelings and was pushed out of my comfort zone, which now I'm grateful and glad that I had the opportunity for that.

The new discoveries I have personally learnt from myself is how controlled I was working in a group- it was independent as well as collaborative and I liked how I found stain-ability in my group of the importance of gaining a voice and always trying to be involved, from working collaboratively I’ve realised that an idea is never too small or too big as a group you can always work it out, planning time and making time together allows you to enjoy the work your producing collaboratively. 

UNIT X - EDUCATOR: POP UP POM POM'S

POP UP POM POM's SIGN BEING CREATED.

POM POM GARLAND

POM POM GARLAND BEING PUT UP

TABLE LAYOUT- VISUAL AIDS- YARNS-POM POM TEMPLATES

POM POM WORKSHOP IN FULL SWING

POM POM KEY RING- OWN IMAGE.

POM POM KEYRING- OWN IMAGE

Pop Up Pom Pom's was a success. It was a relaxed and great experience. The Pom Pom girls have done it again! Our collaboration skills have improved in each workshop we have faced. This workshop audience was for adults and it was more of a calm workshop as I found it much easier to settle and get stuck in. Before we set up at the exhibition space we met each other before hand to get the sign ready, again we just did that all together really, as well as the roles for the night of having front of house, activity leaders etc. we had all that planned but when the workshop started and we got into it we all just naturally took turns and walked around. This workshop was very different to the other two for it being not as structured but this workshop is defiantly the best. Everyone who joined in the Pom Pom making looked so happy and alot of people said of how therapeutic it was! The layout of the table was important for us as we wanted everyone to feel welcomed and to just walk straight in and take a seat due to the layout of the room.. in total there was round 100-200 people who took part in the workshops we had on the night- which a great response to all our pop up workshops!
The way the table looked and was laid out was very welcoming and easy to see.. the garlands that Kitty And Ellie made were beautiful.. at first I was not very keen on them as thought it was wasting time on planning as in that week we had another workshop to be worrying about, but they pulled it off nicely. More in this planning of the workshop it was a joint team effort of us all coming together and making Pom Pom's and planning out how we want it to look and run like, two of the girls said they would buy the yarns, scissors and makers from hobby craft due to them living near each other and a hobby craft but other than that we did all collaborate together.
The unit X exhibition was our 3rd workshop for this unit- and this one for me is the most significant. its was more comfortable for me to be helping adults as I had more of a conversation with them aswell as it being an exhibition, majority of us had similar interests and being from art backgrounds. This workshop made me think about Art Therapy, from peoples feedback of how relaxed they felt and that the worries went once doing a Pom Pom, it being therapeutic process, them learning a new skill old and new, it was just a very calm and safe environment for us as workshop runners and for the audience. The Pom Pom key chains were the best possible outcome for the workshop-  Key rings being new and contemporary so it attracts people straight away, as people like to see an end product which by introducing key ring Pom Pom's made the workshop more beneficial and successful.

POM POM GIRLS (TOP)
UNIT X EDUCATOR GROUP (BOTTOM)

The success and popularity of our Pop up Pom Pom's- The group was approached by a fashion student who wanted to use all of our Pom Pom's in her final shoot- she loved how retro and bohemian they looked through the use of colours and materials used. As a group we agreed to let that happen, so we are looking forward to hear back from Ellis and see the photos to which we can out into our portfolios!

UNIT X - EDUCATOR: DACA WORKSHOP

This workshop now being the 2^nd one we have delivered in this unit was the most difficult one. How much time, planning and realistic ideas we had to come up with as group was the tough part, as well as doing a workshop with teenage children was scary.. but from saying that we did! The whole experience of visiting Daca will always be memorable as we had the insight into a school which no one could ever do or dream about since leaving there school. Times have changed especially teaching standards. Daca is a very clean and inspiring school and the teaching as a whole is very positive...

The workshop came together as we planned & the kids really got involved. Our outcome of it being a collaborative workshop/experience was better than we expected. (As you can see in the images). The whole experience was collaborative for us as well as the students! Young minds are amazing, they were so chatty, outgoing and willing. All the dread disappeared in that workshop as it was just an enjoyable experience- im so grateful I had the opportunity to run a workshop. This part of the blog I’m not going to explain in detail it’s more of the imagery captured throughout that day which will be more understanding.

Our workshop was all about re-using recycled materials, we had four stations. Station 1: Yarns, Station 2: Plastics, Station 3: Clothes, Station 4: Dyes on fabric. We all had our own Stations to help the students. They create little weave samples for 20 minutes on each station so they could experiment with the materials, the afternoon session consisted of putting the warps on the circular looking coggs we designed, to then they used the materials they have tried out to weave onto the warp, to finish off the day is where the collaborative bit came in of the students working together and creating a installation using there weaves they created and putting them together as whole piece. To break up the day we used Ice Breakers to get the students in the mood as well as using collaborative ones to get them to understand about working together.  As a group we were very proud of the student’s communication and involvement through that lengthy workshop- so a big thanks to the Yr8s & 9s. Well done!

STATION SET UP.

ICEBREAKER

ICEBREAKER

SAMPLES

SAMPLES

SAMPLES

SAMPLES

SAMPLES

FINAL OUTCOME

FINAL OUTCOMES

FINAL OUTCOME

FINAL OUTCOMES

FINAL OUTCOMES

ALL HAPPY! WELL DONE TEAM.

UNIT X - EDUCATOR: FINAL RUN THROUGH

Today we had to do dry run through for both of the upcoming workshops next week. These dry runs really help and encourage you on the workshops as well as seeing what everyone else is up to in there workshops as you are so wrapped up in your groups workshop that you don’t realise what anyone else is doing.

Unit X workshops – Both groups got a huge approval from Anna and Hannah, they felt confident enough to let our workshops happen on that night. They both seemed excited about our Pop up Pom Pom’s as well as everyone else in the room for that matter. The dry run through went smoothly as a group as we all were confident in what we were doing, from our ideas brain storm we have decided to have crazy party hats with Pom Pom’s on top to which Anna would want everyone to wear (even the other group). Anna and Hannah really did see the fun involved in this workshop which is the response we want our audience to have. We talked through the visual aids that would be presented and our rota system of helpers, front of house and photographers. I was impressed with our group’s success in the Pom Pom area as we made over 30 Pom Pom’s! That shows how carried away we got so our audience will do also, we had various sizes and colours as well as a plastic Pom Pom which looked and felt amazing!

POM POM'S - OWN IMAGE.

Placement workshop-  To summarise the school has asked for us produce 2 all day workshops for their Yr. 7 class and Yr. 9 class, one group has Yr. 7s and other group Yr. 9s, simple workshop for them to do.

The group I’m in have called ourselves Weavers to make it easier – Annabel, Ellie, Kitty, Vic & Me. (The name of the group gives away what we are doing.) In our dry run we introduced ourselves to the room and played out like they were the students. Explained our imaginary PowerPoint, our imaginary equipment as we just needed to laser cut them etc. As a group when we finished we were very impressed in ourselves. Anna and Hannah feedback was on bringing ice breakers into the workshop also to spread our time out as it being an all-day session, so from that feedback we discussed on what kind of ice breakers we could bring into the session. One to start the kids off in the morning and I don’t know how we came up with this idea but we are going to make a giant plait using long materials i.e. rope, blanket, towel which a girl used in one of her micro teaches to do arm knitting, as a group we agreed on the plaiting as we thought it would be an enjoyable ice breaker first thing In the morning. When discussing the time plan we noticed we had time issues. So we needed to contact Louise for more input.

We did another dry run through again and got to see everyone else’s dry run through again as to incorporate the feedback both tutors given. And Weaver’s workshop felt more like a workshop in ways of how we have an ice breaker and we included a quick feedback section as well. From that we got to go and just write up a more detailed lesson plan.Some groups had to stay behind to have a talk about their schools workshop as the tutors didn't feel confident enough for them to deliver one, So basically the other group from Daca the same placement were on got dropped due to their idea and workshop planning not being successful due to them not co-operating as a group. To which that group have to join our Weavers group as Teaching Assistant’s now.

UNIT X - EDUCATOR: TOPIC: LINES OF ENQUIRY

Collaboration. In simple terms it’s very easy to use the word collaboration as if you have actually done the thing – you can say you have collaborated with someone by just asking them a question or just turning up on the day. Collaboration for me is in depth- it’s getting to know your ‘collaboration’ it’s getting to discuss the pros and cons involved, it’s about helping when things go wrong as well as helping when things go right, it’s about being involved constantly. That collaboration thought is exactly how it worked out for me and the group I’m placed in.

I tried to googling the word COLLABORATION. I agree its when two or more people come together to share the same experience but it was how the research on this word picked out sorts of learning experiences as bad collaboration and how bad collaboration is more memorable to others than the good in collaboration- which is true in sense's as you always remember the bad instead of the good as it marks you. which in this case and so far in this Unit I have not had a bad case of collaboration just experienced hiccups along the way.

The practice I’m in its rare you collaborate with someone whilst working on your designs, only way you collaborate is when you’re wanting to try a new skill, which reading that now sounds lonely. But I’m not lonely in this Unit, I have loved the collaborating experience. I’ll be sad when this unit ends of being back to just me but I feel that the skills I have gained will make me work much differently now. Plus the experience i have gained through collaboration will now give me the confidence to be able to either assist or guide other students in the near future.

EXAMPLES OF Z ARTS COLLABORATION

EXAMPLE OF Z ARTS COLLABORATION

Z arts being our first collaborating assignment, Having planned that workshop ourselves putting ourselves into even smaller groups on who would be better in that area, working with each other, communicating with each other in group messages and meeting each other then reflecting what we had done so far ready for the workshop, buying all the equipment.. I felt our groups collaborative response was committed from day one because of how amazingly well that workshop went for us all. 

 Reflecting back on that now I have seen all of us grow together and come out confidently through this of us talking and getting to know each other’s strengths and weaknesses in areas.. We know who the best talkers are in the group and the quieter ones, academic, organised, creative ones,But there is always down sides to the collaboration of you being that much involved and dedicated to getting all these lesson plans out, all the samples prepped, that it can lead to being very ‘Aggy’ and grumpy people which leads to motivation going downhill and ideas leading different ways BUT if you are in the right group you can always come out of that 'dark side' as you go away and sleep and the next day the group is picking you up again! and BAM your motivation levels kick back in, but if your not co operating with the group or don't really have a connection to the others it leads on to people releasing they do not like working collaboratively and prefer to work alone – (which is understandable, its not everyone's cup of tea) but it puts a strain in the group, of the group trying to not give them jobs they want to do as they don’t want to do anything which is more work for the people who want to be there but obviously easy work for them who don’t want to be there. Yes, collaborative work has its pro’s and con’s but what doesn't?!

The group I have been placed in has come out of 4 main people (5 including me) of being determined and willing to collaborate with each other. As a group we have come together, talk to each other constantly about the upcoming workshops happening, planning our lessons plans together, working on ideas together, asking about each others blogs together. We have come together collaboratively and have come out of the end of it as friends.

I feel for further development for me would to be more at ease of collaboration in my own practice, open minded of ideas of how different and extravagant they may be is to allow myself to be open and willing with others, problem may occur but talking and getting feedback about it will always overcome them- I feel that working collaboratively has really helped me develop my people skills. to which the skills im wanting to take forward with me in my own practice will come to use in the next workshops, and me working with my group and to keep on communicating and working together im sure we will come out successful in both workshops.

All from different backgrounds but that ties it together whilst working collaboratively.

UNIT X - EDUCATOR: DRY RUN THROUGH

So the unit X workshop is taking place on the 12/05/16, for our input into unit x we are delivering a workshop. We have been briefed and been given a lesson plan of the night of how Anna has planned it like, the location we know, as well as we only have that one day to install and DE install and by 5pm everything will be needed to be all done and ready for the VIPs who have a secret viewing before anyone else. The workshop is split into 2 groups. The original plan was to have 1 hr slot per group but all the educator students wanted more than an hour for the workshop so we are all coming together in the same room, all doing our workshops whilst running along each other’s. (It’s going to be busy!) So now we have from 6-9pm.

The next task was to actually come up with a workshop being in our groups.

Unit X Brief 

This image is our group’s brain storm of ideas.

IDEAS.

FINAL IDEA - POP UP POM POM'S

The second image is the idea we all agreed on finally and pitched our workshop to the other group. Our group’s idea was to capturing fun into the night of having Pop up Pom Pom’s. We sourced the idea from the placement we have been visiting on a Tuesday as well as Pom Pom’s being a popular item to have now, especially being on key rings which are sold on the high street, my input into that brain storm was for the pom pom's to made into something I.e a badge or keyring- at first we liked the badge idea but i was just adamant on the key ring as i have always wanted a Pom Pom key ring.. also the pop up would be more beneficial of coming out of there with an actually product to show, We had the idea again of using recycled materials to which we had recycled from another workshop (placement workshop) but instead we thought of using plastic bags instead of other recycled materials to keep this workshop different to the other. What is going to happen in this pop up is having people come and sit down and creating their own Pom Pom which they can take home as a key ring, we will have visual aids presented on the table for them to go off if people are unsure on how to make a Pom Pom as well as member of the group will be involved in sitting down and helping them create their Pom Pom. We are having Pom Pom templates already cut out as well as different coloured yarns and different thickness of yarns on the table as well as scissors. We took in that maybe people would struggle so we do have Pom Pom makers and already made Pom Pom’s, where we have asked each member of our group to make a Pom Pom as I have never made one before. So for the rest of the week we have got a plan together of what is needed to buy and for us to actually produce a Pom Pom so we can feedback to each other on how we learnt to it, then decide on the visual aid which is best to go off.

I feel our groups workshop will be creative and fun as we are bringing back a “old school” craft back, a Do it yourself type of workshop. It’s very contemporary and will be an enjoyable and relaxed vibe for our final workshop. 

UNIT X - EDUCATOR: DACA BRIEF

The workshop will be all day and Louise wants 2 workshops.

-          1 workshop – Yr7

-          1 workshop – Yr9 

The pupils taking part are academic pupils, there gifted and talented programme. There will be 15 students in each session

Can have any idea to base the workshop on but the outcome is for it to be a collaborative piece of work but Louise informed us that at the moment the kids have been learning/working about recycling and recycling materials and Pom Pom’s.

Pintrest - Recycled Materials.

The next task was to create a workshop from the brief Louise generated, we split into the groups we chosen ourselves by splitting the table in half.

Group 1 – Annabel, Ellie, Kitty, Vic and me.

Group 2 – Ellie S, Mary Lou, Sam and Toni

Group 2 had chosen to work with the Yr7s in their workshop so we had Yr9s, from that we had 30 minutes to get idea together.

Pinterest was our main source of ideas getting generated, we created an idea board on Pinterest and was pinning all our idea together...

From our little brain storm session, as a group we had the same theme throughout which was being recycled materials.

After the 30 minutes we pitched our ideas to Louise, from our talk we had the ideas of using a weave technique using recycled materials like clothes as majority of the group being textile based. Having piles of clothes cut into long stripes to be weaved onto a loom?

Ideas of dying fabric also, for how they can create a weave we saw images of bike wheels so the outcome would be an installation piece of sorts.

What we had brought to the table so far Louise was happy with and said it was very collaborative of how the outcome would be an installation, and that we could discuss more as a group of how this would work... Louise said she will ask the students to bring old/unused clothes as well as herself contacting charity shops for clothes that they cannot sell.

Pintrest - recycled materials.

Pintrest - Recycled Materials.

To look @ our groups boards: 

https://uk.pinterest.com/jones3140/educator/

https://uk.pinterest.com/jones3140/weaving-workshop/ 

What we need to have for the workshop is a PowerPoint so the students have visuals and step by step plan of what’s happening throughout the day – research involved in the PowerPoint also and artist research if an artist does similar work.

So for this Group (1) need more of a talk and explore our ideas and create a workshop.