Why embodied learning can help bridge the gap in schools and classrooms

I'm currently completing a Graduate Diploma in Primary Teaching through Murdoch University in Perth. Earlier this year I traveled to Perth to complete an on campus unit that looked at how to teach the arts and health and physical education. Here I became well acquainted with the notion of embodied learning - learning by doing.

During this unit we were asked to develop a presentation associated with this active form of learning to be pitched to an audience of our choice. Our group chose to focus on how embodied learning can assist disadvantaged students and target school teachers. Check out our powerpoint presentation on slideshare. Included are some great strategies, case studies and links

http://www.slideshare.net/salgiss/why-embodied-learning-can-help-bridge-the-gap-in-schools-and-classrooms

The art of good health and well being conference - Melbourne 16-19 November

I am really excited to be registered for the Art of Good Health and Well Being Conference, Melbourne 2010 http://www.artsandhealth.org/

I'm especially looking forward to the following workshop

Creative Programming Across the Lifespan:

A Professional Development Workshop and Discussion Group for Museum and Gallery Educators, responsible for delivering Community and Access Programs for Children, Families and Older People, including programs specifically designed for people with dementia and their carers.
To be facilitated by Carrie McGee, Educator, Community and Access Programs, Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York and Adriane Boag, Youth and Community Programs, National Gallery of Australia (NGA), Canberra.

Childrens' museum theatre program - Museum of the Riverina

The Day We Made Rain - Embracing Diversity by Working Together from Museum Wagga on Vimeo.


I currently work as a Museum Education and Public Programs officer for the Museum of the Riverina, Wagga Wagga, NSW. Earlier this year we were involved in an arts based program for children that culminated in the development of a short film, 'The day we made rain'.

On Saturday 26 June in conjunction with the 2010 Refugee Week Celebrations, the Museum screened this film and it has since been included in the Border and Region Film Festival

This short film was a unique production created by a vibrant group of Wagga kids. The film's storyline focuses on a worldwide drought in which a diverse array of creatures are forced to leave their homes and loved ones in search of water. Also included was behind the scenes footage of some of the fun, laughs and games had during production.

The film was the result of a 6 week Museum theatre program developed by the Museum of the Riverina in partnership with the Multicultural Council of Wagga Wagga.

Visit this program’s blog at http://www.museumwagga.wordpress.com/ or watch the film below.

Heading to the uk

Come December I'll be bracing the chilly English winter and visiting Museums and Galleries involved in inclusive programming. A big thanks to Professor Richard Sandell from Leicester University who has been an immense help in tracking down UK Museum and Galleries doing great work in this field.

Museums and galleries on the list so far are...

-  Museum of London http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/English/ 

-  British Museum http://www.britishmuseum.org/ 

-  The Lightbox  http://www.thelightbox.org.uk/

 

Allow me to introduce myself

My name is Sally Gissing and I'm a Museum Education and Public Programs Officer with a passion for fusing together creative elements such as theatre, visual arts, music, dance, social media and digital technology so to form engaging and meaningful community development programs that promote the inclusion of emerging and disenfranchised groups.

I'm especially interested in developing programs that directly benefit and connect with emerging and disadvantaged groups whilst producing an end product that tells the story of the participants. The end product maybe an exhibition physical or digital, documentary, puppet show, podcast, vodcast...the possibilities are endless. This can then be publicly displayed, creating awareness and encouraging acceptance.

As a museum educator I believe Museums and similar cultural facilities are perfect spaces to host such projects and finished works and am truly excited about the potential of these cultural hubs to become vehicles of social inclusion.