Learning Experience in NIE

LEARNING EXPERIENCE IN NIE AND HOW IT AFFECTS MY BELIEFS

My learning experience in NIE was indeed a unique one. Gone were the textbooks and the theories. I had the opportunity to play, and learn through play. I have also had the privilege of working with famous Singaporean artists and learning alongside them skills and lesson ideas that would actively and simultaneously engage students in Art.

Below, I'm showing some experiments I have done in one of my modules. No topic was given. We were simply provided with materials and told to "play" with them. I experienced a "reverse" way of learning, which I realised actually provided more opportunities for unexpected outcomes.

*Ink on watercolored paper (done in water)

*Paint controlled by RC cars

*Wax resist

*Ink, milk, and soap

*Ink, high-fat milk, and soap

This form of learning was no doubt an exciting one. It was uncomfortable at first, since it was uncommon in school to have the chance at free thinking. I was used to being given a specific topic to work around. With this new form of teaching, I found myself slowly growing the intrinsic motivation to move beyond what I was taught. I performed extra research, looked for new materials to play with, and I truly enjoyed what I did.

And that is something I wish to bring to my students. In art education, I believe that students are motivated to learn when something new and interesting excites them to further explore it. My role would then be to bring this excitement into the class, to question them and have them think beyond what they already know. This engagement, I believe, is the true motivating factor to engage students in learning.

In the short four months that I have been in NIE, I have learned immensely about Art education in Singapore and how it is core and indispensable to human and cultural growth. In our current society where children are encouraged to strive and achieve perfection, Art, if taught well, teaches children that the meaningfulness of learning is far more valuable and perfection.

UNDERSTANDING OF V3SK

The V3SK represents the underpinning philosophy of teacher education at NIE. In each of the courses in NIE, they are formulated such that student-teachers would have the opportunity to gain the essential Values, Skills and Knowledge.

Our students need to acquire new knowledge, skills and dispositions to ensure their survival and success as individuals, as members of the community, and as citizens of our nation. Therefore as teachers, we must be equipped with the right skills to guide our students.

I found that in each of the modules I have taken, the V3SK model was definitely present. I also understand that this model would in the end help build our GTC Framework as well.

My next step would be to attempt mapping the modules I have taken with the V3SK model to track my development in each area.