University of the Arts (UAL) symposium on 22 April 2015 explored the relationship between creative practice, creative teaching and teacher identity.

The day brought together distinguished colleagues and peer-reviewed curriculum development projects to share and disseminate practice as well workshop activities that supported participants to reflect and develop their own practice.

The symposium celebrated UAL funded educational development projects to share good practice across the university and also across the sector, which enabled colleagues at the university to engage with a wider community and provide models of excellence and creative practice to support a wider understanding of professional development in creative subjects.

Symposium convened by:

Antony Johnston, Teaching and Learning Exchange, UAL

Cara Lee Roth, Student Enterprise and Employability

The programme was designed to support teaching, research and practice including keynote speakers and workshops, and parallel sessions that explore the themes of Community Engagement,  Art, Design and Material Practices, and Enterprise and Employability. Download original programme here.

Professor Rebecca Fortnum, Director of Graduate Studies (Fine Art), Middlesex University London

TEACHING, RESEARCH AND PRACTICE: A PRODUCTIVE TENSION?

Rebecca Fortnum’s research has centered on the documentation and analysis of fine artists’ creative process conducted alongside her own fine art and teaching practice.  In this presentation she explored how her teaching, art practice and research both inform and disrupt each other.

Professor Susan Orr, Dean of Learning, Teaching and Enhancement and Professor in Creative Practice Pedagogy University of the Arts London

FROM PRACTITIONER-TEACHER TO PRACTITIONER-TEACHER-RESEARCHER

OR

HOW TO TURN THAT NIGGLE INTO A RESEARCH OUTCOME

This workshop supported participants to reflect upon their own practice in light of creating and sharing research outputs. Susan who is Editor of the journal Art, Design & Communication in Higher Education guided participants through journal submission and review process as well as helped participants to consider

Dr Alison James,  Associate Dean Learning and Teaching, National Teaching Fellow, London College of Fashion 

Fred Meller, Senior Lecturer and UAL Teaching Scholar, Central Saint Martins

REFLECTING IN 3D

This hands-on workshop introduced participants to the techniques and principles of Lego Serious Play as a means of evaluating thoughts, ideas and actions stemming from the morning sessions. More broadly, it offered a thoughtful, creative and playful space as an alternative means of considering teaching practice in the light of key themes.

Margot Bannerman, Senior Lecturer, Central Saint Martins

SITE RESPONSIVE WORK: LEARNING FROM THE OUTSIDE

This session explored approaches to supporting students in creating site responsive work through processes of collaboration, iteration and sustained attention to place. The session considered how working outside of the confines of the institution and engagement with locality can enhance student learning and help foster dialogues with communities outside the university.

Edwina Fitzpatrick, Course Leader MFA Fine Art, Wimbledon College of Arts

THE FUTUREPROOF HANDBOOK

This inclusive project formed a significant part of the validation of the  MFA Fine Art Course in 2011. It involved working with CCW alumni alongside the MA Fine Art students to determine the philosophy, curriculum and content of the new course.

Everything!

The people - a rich mix of thoughtful and friendly educational practitioners from a wide base

The sessions - beautifully planned, wonderfully presented and well researched

The content - all relevant and thought-provoking

Thank you!

Sarah Temple, Course Director in the School of Design, London College of Communication 

Tara Hanrahan, Special Projects Lead/Associate Lecturer School of Design, London College of Communication 

CONSCIENTIOUS COMMUNICATION & CRITICAL MASS 

Through two funded case study projects the session demonstrated the value of responsibility external co-design informed by expert knowledge to the student and staff experience in understanding professional futures.

Shibboleth Shechter, Senior Lecturer and Year Leader, Spatial Design, Chelsea College of Arts

Patricia Austin, Course Leader, Narrative Environments, Central Saint Martins

‘LIFE AND DEATH’ TOOLKIT

A presentation of the development process, by staff and students from MA Narrative Environments, and recent testing as part of CSM Green Week of the ‘Life and Death’ toolkit. The aim of ‘Life and Death’ is to help students reflect on the sustainability of their design project and make informed decisions throughout the design process.

Marsha Bradfield, Post-doc Fellow at CCW Graduate School, Chelsea College of Arts 

PUNCTURE REPAIR FOR RECENT GRADUATES: THE CREATIVE PRACTICE CYCLING TOURS

It’s spring 2014. Staff, students, alumni and other friends of the UAL are on a roll as they cycle among soul traders, weekend warriors, local heroes, lifestyle alchemists and donorpreneurs who work in the Valley of Materialism. Learn their tricks for puncture repair and other survival strategies that no recent graduate should be without... 

Sarah Cox, Archivist

Libraries and Academic Support Services, Archives and Special Collections, London College of Communication

OBJECT BASED LEARNING USING ARCHIVES AND SPECIAL COLLECTIONS

This session explored examples of how archives, museum and special collections have been used as inspiration for new creative practice, and how object-based learning has opened up new possibilities for curriculum development.

Anne Marr, Course Leader BA Textile Design, Central Saint Martins 

TALKING TEXTILE CAREERS: STUDENT-LED ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT

The session shared an Alumni project, which  encouraged students to self initiate interviews and consider possible textile careers. Engaging with alumni of their choice, students developed a deeper confidence in networking skills. The project resulted in new course resources such as interview recordings and (re)connecting to a diverse pool of alumni.

Alumni Videos: Link 1, Link 2, Link 3 & Link 4

Anne Marr  Interview “Talking About Enterprise and Employability", Link 

"The concept of learning through touch. 

"Learning / hearing colleagues approaches to balancing research, teaching and studio practice identities. 

"The idea that you should take a niggle seriously.

Katrine Hjelde, Lecturer BA Fine Art, Chelsea College of Art and Design

Richard Elliot, Royal Academy of Arts

WORKSHOP IN THE WORKSHOP

The workshop Chelsea was explored as a physical and discursive site for engagement around the themes of skills and material knowledge within and beyond the contemporary art school though a discursive exhibition/symposium event with exhibitors and speakers ranging from artists, academics, technicians, alumni and students.

Relted Output: ADCHE Volume 13 Issue 1 for article: FLΔG Collective: Praxis between the educational turn and the art school Link to article