Integrating Pedagogies
Marrying the two: Art & Design-Thinking education models with Real world engagement
Inspired by educational models by the d.school K-12 lab at Stanford University and IDEO’s (global design firm) Design for Learning, our programme uses these models as a framework to critically look at the city in its past, present and future states in the context of Singapore
IN-situ Learning
Learning from the City
In all phases of the program, participants will develop and immerse in intimate ties with the local built and natural environment, from void decks to playgrounds to nature reserves, as canvases of their creative investigation and re-imagination of the city.
Experience
What Makes Our City?
Our city - The Physical Space
The city becomes the classroom, and a wealth of resource for learning and inspiration. Participants will look at spaces of various scales - from familiar to unfamiliar spaces, from playgrounds to the transportation system. They will be brought on excursions to experience the diverse local urban and natural landscapes, such as Jalan Kukoh Estate, Sungei Thieves’ Market, Kampung Kampus, Dakota Crescent, Rochor Centre flats, Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park, etc.
EXCURSION
the city as a canvas
Participants will immerse and engage their senses in creating new and playful ways of looking and relating to the city, using art as a process of discovery, and as tools to document, reflect, imagine and articulate. While we will make use of standard tools used in design, such as photography, drawing, sculpting, we are also very much interested in how art forms like dance, theatre and music can facilitate imagination and thought.
Understand
Who and how are we today?
Our City - The Social Space
Participants will further engage in a reflective and human-centred design-thinking process - developing a social and ecological consciousness, by stepping into the shoes of local communities and growing a sensitivity to the diversity of needs, desires and dreams amongst different people.
conversations
our people
Empathy is at the heart of our programme. We aim to break down preconceptions and stereotypes relating to specific groups of people, in order to encourage an inclusive and open-minded attitude. We hope their final ideas will consider the need for integration and inclusion.
IDeate
What drives us?
By critically looking at the physical and social aspects of the city, participants will be guided in proposing ideals for their future city that is important and unique to themselves. We are particularly interested in the new 5Cs - Creativity, Compassion, Collaboration, Confidence and Contribution.
Brainstorming through the arts
the better city
Participants will brainstorm their personal ideals but also expand upon one another's ideals. This will be explored through collaborative activities in the arts - especially in dance and theatre.
Create
What will the future be?
Equipped with these ideals and their newfound creative tools, they will work in groups to construct their own vision of Singapore. While we encourage broad experiment with multiple ideals and artistic mediums (some creative mess!), we hope that the process of prototyping and iterating will filter and distil the fundamental values of their future city.
visions
our future
In this section of the programme, participants will work together in small groups to synthesise the skills, knowledge, values and ideals gathered from the previous days, to propose a possibility of a future city. We are open to various forms and possibilities that a city can embody - whether it is a proposal of its physicality or a particular abstract quality of the interactions in the city. Participants will experiment with art, design and digital fabrication tools in creating and playing out their own visions of the future city.
Share
How can we get there together?
Forum
one family
Participants will co-organize and curate their own public forum, where they will engage the public in a collaborative open discussion in re-imagining the future city together while receiving critical feedback and support.
Educator's ToolKit
collaborating with local educators
We hope to co-create resources with local educators which vividly documents our process of integrating art and design-thinking pedagogies with real world engagement.
