Why Art Matters in Collaborative Learning

Art has so many important roles in addressing our ecological crises and collaborative learning I believe is a vital tool for resilience building.

I am thrilled to find this recently published article in the pedagogic journal East Asia Regional Council of Schools (EARCOS). It evolved from a Artist Residency I did in at ISB school in Beijing  in Nov 2024 .

see page 32-33 

https://issuu.com/earcosorg/docs/et_journal_spring_issue_2026

 

It’s really interesting to see how pedagogic strategies and arrangements are structured to facilitate collaborative learning. Together with Yvette Stride and her Classes Art 1 and Art 2 , we approached these methods of exploration, looking at ecological systems and unanimously agreed mycelial networks as a starting point. Then students began to select skills that might develop those ideas and sharing of those skills with others, which included basket weaving with twigs , pine needles, wool , crocheting and felting. Other ideas evolved when we discussed while weaving and making , such as internet communication and some of the challenges that lie within these networks.

It was a great project to delve into with so many bright students and an honour to be part of this.

A huge thank you to Caitlyn Homol and Yvette Stride of ISB  for this write up. 

 

This was the last day of my residency  pictured here with  intern Emma Yang, Head of Highschool Art Joseph Stewart , myself and HighSchool Art Yvette Stride standing in front of the Elementary school exhibition section.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

An overall view of the Elementary, Middle and High schools exhibition 

Other links 

Yvette Stride 

https://yvettestride.com/cultivating-connections-with-niamh-cunningham/

ISB Artist Residency Nov 2024 

18 Willows- ISB artist residency & school exhibition