Teaching Practices Colloquium (TPC):

Joe Dobson, Chinyere Anyanwagu, Kusum Malik, Nancy, & Tanya Manning-Lewis

This presentation will share a unique collaborative project with kinetic art (automata) representing learning theories. Lily Dalley, a local artist and retired teacher, and students in Learning about Learning, a course in the Graduate Certificate in Educational Studies, with the facilitation of faculty members, collaborated on a project in which students conceptualized how learning theories could be visualized in automata. Automata, hand-created art pieces that can include human figures that can move in three-dimensional scenes, can be created to represent a wide variety of settings. In this project, students worked in teams to brainstorm ideas on theories that could be visually represented in automata and from these, Lily created four automata. Additionally, students added descriptions and information to the project, and associated website. The presenters will share the inspiration for this project, how the artist and faculty worked with students, the creation of the pieces, and reflections on their experience. This project highlights how community collaboration can lead to rich connections and learning opportunities for all involved. As part of this project, four Learning Theory Automata offering unique interactive experiences were created and will be showcased at the session along with the project website. These automata embody the principles of behaviourism, constructivism, cognitivism and motivation and will offer attendees an opportunity for hands-on engagement and a deeper understanding.