Philosophy of Education research and action research portfolio

1
Philosophy of Education research and action
research portfolio
A Conference paper and publication as output
followed by examples of further dissemination
Submitted by Ranjana Thapalyal, Graduate
School Output No. 3
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"Towards a Curriculum of Consciousness "An
African and Asian Interface for NewPhilosophy of
Art and Contemporary Cultural Practice, Tested
Through Action Research
2504
Ranajna Thapalyal. Graduate School
Banner of 4 Minds virtual learning environment,
used as a communication hub and archive fro the
action research project. .
3
Canada International Conference on Education,
TorontoAn international conference inviting
interdisciplinary and discipline specific
research in education. (postponed from 26-28
April 2010 to 24-26 May 2010) CICE 2010 was
funded by Palgrave McMillan The Infomatics
Society Correctional Service, Canada SAPWorld
Scientific Journals Paper published in refereed
conference proceedings May 2010 CICE-2010_Proceed
ings.pdf http//radar.gsa.ac.uk/2504/1/CICE-2010_P
roceedings.pdf
The ideas developed in this paper, and trough the
action research project it describes, have been
applied and dissmeinated in a variety of
situations Abstract "4 Minds" is a trans-
disciplinary pedagogic action research project
taking place at Glasgow School of Art in
affiliation with Goldsmiths College University of
London. Seven colleagues were invited to test
Thapalyals proposal that self reflective
approaches to art and art education could be
developed from a deconstruction and selection of
Hindu and Yoruba philosophical theories.
(continued)
Image one a description of what we are looking
at in the context of the project.
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January 2009-June 2010The 4 Minds project
aimed to open dialogue regarding the nature of
self and the place for critical contemplative
approaches in Art School education. The idea of
the self, introduced through two ancient
traditions, was therefore placed into
contemporary contexts of social responsibility
and individual agency. The project included
special events such as musical lecture
demonstrations, and visiting speakers.
Information was disseminated and archived via a
cross-school virtual learning environment. It has
resulted in archived reusable teaching material
including recorded lectures and events.
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The project was trans disciplinary in nature.
Initially a staff action research team was set
up, with students envisaged as taking a
respondent mode. As the project progressed, a
student research team was formed, as a direct
outcome of enthusiasm expressed by second year
students emerging from the course through which
the theoretical material was disseminated. Being
phenomenological in nature, the project ties in
well with reflection on the educational process
as a whole, and encourages an active awareness of
learning and teaching exchanges. Its use of
postcolonial critical analysis embeds a method of
researching the broader cultural contexts of
works form unfamiliar cultures or eras, and an
interest in recognising multiple perspectives
Image one a description of what we are looking
at in the context of the project.
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There are now three generations of student team
members, with members of the first team having
graduated and now developing their own research
theories in their teaching and artistic
practices. One has been teaching in Switzerland
and Romania, others are working in Scotland, and
the most recent team is working developing
research logs and practices reflective of their
learning experience on the project, as well a so
their aspirations for art school education. All
staff and student teams will be invited to
exhibit/ publish the resulting works/texts.
Image one a description of what we are looking
at in the context of the project.
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May 2010-present The 4 Minds project has
directly influenced methodologies of
Inter-disciplinary curriculum development for
the Master of Research in Creative Practices,
GSA. This one- year postgraduate taught
programme takes a highly disciplined approach to
the notion of practice as research. It delivers
an internationally inter-culturally aware
curriculum, and employs a pedagogy of reflective
practice. The programme is team taught, with
input from specialist tutors and partnerships
with curators and media specialists. As programme
leader, work includes programming the various
courses, input of material on education, Yoruba
concepts, Sanskrit theatre, and designing of new
material specifically looking at defining and
furthering interdisciplinarity and a rigorous
understanding of practice as research. The M.Res
in Creative Practices has been credited as having
influenced several new programmes at the
University of Chester, i.e. the MA Creativity and
Education for the Professions, and a module on
the EdD.
Image one a description of what we are looking
at in the context of the project.
Image one a description of what we are looking
at in the context of the project.
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Methodologies and ways of thinking
philosophically about art, education, and society
initiated by the CICE conference paper and 4
Minds project have fed into conference papers and
October 2011Freedom and Compassion in the
Arts CurriculumInternational Journal of Art and
Deign education and the National Society for
Education in Art and Design conference, The
Centrality of Art, Design and the Performing Arts
to Education,An international conference
reflecting on the value of art design and
performing art education in a climate of economic
crisis, and strategies for highlighting their
continuing relevance. AbstractIn the context
of an arts industry that sees itself as
vulnerable and oppressed, this paper asks, how do
we become fully human in Freire's sense, as
artists and educators? Are we producing citizens
who are able to live with empathy and compassion,
and might a move forward require an arts
education that includes philosophical self
reflection alongside political and social
critique?
Image one a description of what we are looking
at in the context of the project.
Image one a description of what we are looking
at in the context of the project.
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May 2010 "Thinking Through Effects of Race
Equality Discourse on BME Staff in the Academy
silence within the storm Paper written for
Round Table Putting Race on the Scottish Higher
Education Agenda Held at the University of
Glasgow, organised by Rowena Arshad, Centre for
Education for Race Equality Scotland (CERES)
University of Edinburgh, Philomena de Lima,
University of the Highlands and Islands, and
Vicky Gunn, University of Glasgow. Aimed at
raising awareness of the significance of race
issues in the HE sector. Topics included enquires
into how race issues are perceived and dealt with
in Higher Education pedagogy, support services,
within the disciplines, and through
implementation of legislation. education that
includes philosophical self reflection alongside
political and social critique?
Image one a description of what we are looking
at in the context of the project.
Image one a description of what we are looking
at in the context of the project.
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March 2012 Royal Conservatoire of
Scotland Research colloquia A Walk with Voice-
towards a postcolonial feminist
metaphysics Paper developing possibilites and
contexts for feminism from anceint Indian thought
. May 2012 Glasgow School of Art Postgraduate
Forum Keynote paper A further development of A
Walk with Voice- towards a postcolonial feminist
metaphysics
Image one a description of what we are looking
at in the context of the project.
Image one a description of what we are looking
at in the context of the project.
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Sources of images forming banner on slide 1 (
Banner used in 4 Minds Virtual Learning
Environment Composite head of Vishnu
(Vaikuntha) 11th century CE, Salonki Michel,
George (editor) In the Image of Man- The Indian
Perception of the Universe Through 2000 Years of
Painting and Sculpture. Hayward Gallery,
1982. Flying female warriors11th century CE,
ChandelaMichel, George (editor) In the Image of
Man- The Indian Perception of the Universe
Through 2000 Years of Painting and Sculpture.
Hayward Gallery, 1982. Ayagpatta Jain cosmic
diagram, Mathura, 1st century CE, Kushan Red
sandstone 89x 92 cm Michel, George (editor) In
the Image of Man- the Indian Perception of the
Universe through 2000 Years of Painting and
Sculpture. Hayward Gallery, 1982.
Mask headYoruba, Ife 12th- 15th century CE
Copper 33 x 19 cm. The National Commission for
Museums and Monuments, Lagos. Royal Academy
exhibition catalogue (1995). Africa the Art of a
Continent. London page 416. Ogboni
headTerracotta, 18th - 19th century CE
(?)Private collection, Brussels. H. 38 cm Royal
Academy exhibition catalogue (1995). Africa the
Art of a Continent. London pages 416, 418.