How do you collaborate with non-art teachers? In my previous school, there was a teacher who wanted to collaborate with the Art department (technically there was only me then) to celebrate National Day. She wanted the whole school to receive an identical SG flag template and fill in colour. The fact that you are using art materials such as colour pencils or oil pastels doesn't mean it is art. Another point that I have observed is that the term collaboration is used quite loosely.
For example, last year, I had the children to create this underwater theme "mural" towards the end of the year. We read the book You Be You by Linda Kranz and everyone created a self portrait in the form of a fish. I had the concept and I put up everyone's work. So, in a way, this was mostly cooperation because the children work on their own fish but they could draw their own ideas. Yes, it was tedious and time consuming to put up the children's work but it wasn't a complex task. Whereas in collaborating work, the outcome is to work together to solve an open-ended, complex task.
I was glad with the process and outcome of this year's collaboration with non-art teachers. The children created post-it mural of 百福图 (Hundred Fu Painting). The Chinese language teachers and I had a discussion before we decided on using pictogram as a springboard in the art lesson. The main idea about making meaning out of Chinese characters is here.
To read more about the difference between collaboration and cooperation, please click here and here.
For example, last year, I had the children to create this underwater theme "mural" towards the end of the year. We read the book You Be You by Linda Kranz and everyone created a self portrait in the form of a fish. I had the concept and I put up everyone's work. So, in a way, this was mostly cooperation because the children work on their own fish but they could draw their own ideas. Yes, it was tedious and time consuming to put up the children's work but it wasn't a complex task. Whereas in collaborating work, the outcome is to work together to solve an open-ended, complex task.
I was glad with the process and outcome of this year's collaboration with non-art teachers. The children created post-it mural of 百福图 (Hundred Fu Painting). The Chinese language teachers and I had a discussion before we decided on using pictogram as a springboard in the art lesson. The main idea about making meaning out of Chinese characters is here.
To read more about the difference between collaboration and cooperation, please click here and here.
