All workshops linked to the Creativity for Learning unit are now over… well officially they are. But we did manage to add two more. I didn’t, my students did, which was wonderful. These extra sessions will be peer led. There will be a workshop around academic posters and one around action research. Plus monthly tutorials with me and online support. How will our action research groups work? They have been naturally formed through self-selection and it will be very interesting to see how this will work for us all. Is the new online community space going to work? Not everybody has signed up yet… this has been a major issue for me… put perhaps less fir my students? I heard one of them saying that they enjoy the face-to-face sessions so much that they don’t think the online can add anything? I need some further information regarding this as I will be offering the unit again in September. I have been thinking of specific changes already but discussing these with my current cohort will be really valuable.

Our blank canvas… image source https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8634/16702368746_01f028592f_z.jpg

our stuff: recycling, upcycling in action, image source https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8650/16726861801_0802c263d3_z.jpg

unstoppable now! image source https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8638/16541871499_6553630fe6_z.jpg

collaborative installations, theory in 3D image source https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8666/16107973283_bcf712a6b6_z.jpg
The theories we were studying and representing within the session were demonstrated in practice by the way the tasks were constructed: it allowed for planning, action, discussion and reflection. Everyone’s different skills and strengths were brought together to create a strong visual. You (Chrissi) stepped in with specific assistance when we needed to focus on certain things more. |
It allowed to discover a number of different theories in active way which involved research, discussion and creation. Visualisating ideas helped me to understand the concept. Visualisations helped to facilitate discussion in a group. |
The session linked academic theory to the practical. Each group’s understanding of the theory drove ideas in different directions. Diversity is great!! |
The best one! Making is learning and learning is knowing you are able to make sense of things in pictures, ideas, balloons, people smile 😉 |
“Vizualise” thoughts and ideas make them easier to understand. |
An innovative way to explore theory, sharing the inportance of using visual and creative elements as well as text. Also an enriching opportunity to ? How to do critical reflection/analogies with students. Much food for thought in practice. |
I am going to try something like this next week – a modified vresion! I am aware of my own “issues” with visual representations! |
Working together to discuss theories and using the discussion to make an image really helped me to explore ideas and check my understanding. It was fun too! |
Being able to bounce off other peoples energy when mine was low. Diagrams made theory much more digestable for me. |
Working as a group/collaboratively to farm a shared understanding of complex theories. Loved how visual it was and how the installations grew. |
- contributions from the whole group for the next Creative Academic Magazine around play
- a collaborative paper using the above as open research data
- evaluating the workshops based on the content of the Value Jar, I would like to do this with the group as well.

Patiently waiting with closed eyes! Thank you all. I hope you will be using your brand new shiny badges, image source https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8651/16105612164_78486a6908_z.jpg