MIT Students Harness Otara Creativity & Diversity

MIT students harness Otara's creativity and diversity

Some Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Teaching) third-year students didn't think they had a creative bone in their body, but an exhibition this week of their artworks - called Making Creativity Visible - proved them wrong.

(From bottom left – clockwise) Christine Richards; Christine Perry; Janelle Halliday;
Theresa Ross; Desire Purnell; and Sarah Kee (under photo)

As part of their assessment, students were directed to create an artwork inspired by the community of Otara. "But the assignment took many of the students out of their comfort zone," says lecturer Lin Howie. "Our students have to unleash their own creativity before they can foster children's creativity. We were asking them to take a risk and not give up.

"We gave them digital cameras to capture the sights of Otara that particularly interested or excited them. They then brainstormed and came up with a visual concept. They had to document the creative process as their artwork came together, working with animation and power point."

While some groups struggled with the collaborative process, others had practical difficulties such as transporting their materials. None of them, however, had any difficulty finding inspiration in the world around them, with one group inspired by a laundry sign that led them to play with idea that "the cultural diversity of Otara is like what happens in a wash cycle".

"Students had studied the elements and principles of art in their second year," continues Lin, "but this project was a real breakthrough for a lot of them. I really drove them on and was blown away by the results. They all passed the assignment."

ENDS

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