1. Read and blog about Part One Pink text and Play chapter A Whole New Mind is a book that will only be written in the context of American culture. At least, in my home country, left brain is the dominant and the right brain is minor, so most of parent push their children to study hard science instead of soft science. After reading Part One, I realized that art can be survived out of the ivory tower, which means people could use the experienced obtained from art in modern life. Art and life are not separate, in fact, Dewey’s pragmatism aesthetics links the life experience and the aesthetic activities, so it is reasonable that the art experience can be used in life practice. Have you ever been envious of some students who are good at math? Honestly, I have. There is a saying goes in China, “learning math, physics and chemistry well and you are not afraid of travelling all over the world”. Therefore, most of Chinese students are attracted and encouraged to pursue the Left-brain talents – logical thinking. L-directed thinking people not only harvest high wages, but also contribute a lot to the development of society. However, as Daniel Pink claims, the world which has been ruled by L-directed thinking people now has changed quietly. A sentimental, emotional, and delicate people would be more likely to strike back in this era, which does not mean that people’s characteristics decide everything, while we need to know ourselves better, find the point that fits well the needs of the society, finally to create our own brand. The advent of the internet, especially the rise of the mobile internet, has changed the trend of mass production in the past big industrial times. Therefore, how can we create our own brand in this era? Play is one of the skills that Daniel pink recommends. As he states, “play is becoming an important part of work, business, and personal well-being, its importance manifesting itself in three ways: games, humor, and joyfulness.” (p.188) Play displays an attitude which is entertainment. As we’ve seen the flourishing of the game industry now, it is clear that the sense of entertainment plays an important role in our life. According to humor, everyone likes humorous men or women. For many years, humor is one of the standards for women to choose their partners. Humor is the unique advanced wisdom of human beings, which cannot be copied by computers, and is more and more valuable in the era of high concept and high touch. Personally speaking, I do really need to improve my humor, if I would stay in the U.S. for a while. For example, how to present a topic in the classroom humorously? It is important to take a note when we hear a joke, and then take a moment to think about why this joke is funny. It could be a good way to exercise the skill of humor. 2. Review your collection of one second videos and reflect on the following questions:
What do you notice about what you are doing with your attention? I’ve noticed I pay much attend to my personal life, including teaching, learning, observing and appreciation. The definition of “design” in my collection is extended. As Robin Vande Zande asserts, design education is a study about life. The collection of one second videos is a study about my life too. How did you choose your seconds? I have my own standards choosing one second a day. First, it shows something important in my life which is memorable when I look back. For example, I demonstrated how to make dumplings to my students in Children’s House on Chinese New Year Day. Second, it should be related to artistic life. For example, I am taking color drawing class which is challenged, while I appreciate the life with the new adventure. Third, it shows my appreciation towards life here. For example, I always remember to take video when I cook new dishes. What was challenging about this assignment? First, it is difficult to remember to take video, because sometimes I just stay at home and read books. This is so normal and boring, then I would forget to record the video. Second, sometimes I take so many videos during a day which makes me nervous to choose one. For example, on Chinese New Year Eve, we had so many different activities held on campus and in Chinese-American community. It is really hard to choose which one for presenting my second. What have you learned so that you could structure this process as a successful experience for your students? What I have learned most is that I can see the way how I appreciate my life here in Columbia, and as a student at Mizzou. Time flies, and sometimes I forget to look back the past days in my life. In fact, I do not have this sense. When I look at the collection of one second videos, I have time to review and appreciate my past life. When I present this topic to students, I can tell my personal experience along with my journey. My students would sense how I complete and learn from this project. 3. Write: Class project/topic proposal and post abstract A comparative examination of after-school art programs in China and the United States Background of the Study As the research shows, in 2000, at least 5 million children come home to empty houses because their parents work outside the home in the U.S. Parents worry about their children’s safety and whether they are susceptible to drugs and crime. In order to deal with their concerns, many communities have created after-school programs to keep children and youth out of trouble. However, a research shows that there have not been enough quality programs available in order to meet the needs of the many parents and students, so the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Justice release common elements of high quality after-school programs for school-age students, such as goal setting, quality staff, participant ratios, attention to safety, health and nutrition issues. Afterschool programs are becoming increasingly important part of many students’ educational experience nowadays, and the arts are beginning to take a prominent place in after-school learning. Arts-based after-school programs allow for student self-selection based on individual interests, and they allow more opportunities to connect with the community and to provide mentorships with professionals. Meanwhile, art after-school programs provide more opportunities for older students to work with younger students. In the U.S., most of after-school programs are sponsored by the Federal funding and some companies, however, most of after-school programs in China are established and run by private institution. Some surveys show that after-school programs in China have become a supplement of basic k-12 education, while the tuition of after-school programs is more expensive than the tuition of k-12 schools, which has become one of the serious social problems. After-school programs in China has always been seen a common social phenomenon coexisting with the basic education. After entering 21st century, with the competition and the increasingly fierce competition of employment in China, after-school programs have sprung up like bamboo shoots after the rain. Currently, the categories of after-school programs have covered all subjects. Among them, there are not only main subjects, such as language arts (Chinese literature), math, English, but also including visual arts, music, and sports. Some researchers agree that after-school programs play an important role in students’ study, while some criticizes that after-school programs have increased students’ burden of study as more and more parents push their children to go to after-school programs. Purpose of the Study American educational system has been seen as the best educational system from Chinese people’s perspective, and this is the reason why more and more Chinese students coming to study abroad in the U.S. Currently, many after-school programs leaders and administrators in China blindly implement some practice with which American after-school programs have done. Some advanced and modern art curricular are introduced and transplanted by some art after-school programs in China, however, they ignore the most important part – reality – how they apply these new things in the real classroom. The purpose of this study is to compare the difference and similarities of after-school programs in the U.S. and China, and to explore how local after-school programs in China improve their management and quality, and how they design their curricular which fit well with needs of Chinese students. The questions that I want to explore
Researches and articles saying about after-school art programs
Description of Project and anticipated resources required Since my strong suit is making videos, I am going to make a video (documentary) to present this topic in motion. The video would define the purpose of after-school art programs in the U.S. and China based on the literature review. Some local after-school art programs would be introduced, for example, Resident Art in Columbia, MO. Certainly, a local after-school art program in China would be introduced as well. Moreover, some important facts and research results would be included in this documentary. Finally, art teachers from America and China would be interviewed and they would share their perspectives towards their programs. Project plan
4 Comments
Bethanie Irons
2/18/2018 03:16:42 pm
Hi Jenny!
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Kathy
2/20/2018 01:20:12 pm
Yes, you could focus on how students in China and US after school programs play!
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Kathy
2/20/2018 01:22:37 pm
Yes you are so right: "The collection of one second videos is a study about my life too." and that is why this assignment is so valuable. You are being asked to collect date about what you are noticing, valuing, are aware of in your life.
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Amy
2/20/2018 03:50:39 pm
Hi Jenny!
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