Wanderlust: Expat Life & Style in Thailand August / September 2015 - Art & Education Issue | Page 24

Education
curriculum while Headmaster at
the Oakland School for the Arts in
Oakland, California. I found those
students to be more receptive to
alternative teaching models that
allowed the students to include their
ideas throughout the entire process.
The success of that model has led to
the development of Project E3.
Here is a hypothetical example:
Fifteen students have enrolled in a
six-day workshop that takes place
over three weekends. The topic
is “red,” and their interests are as
follows:
©©
©©
©©
©©
©©
©©
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Acting (2)
Dance (1)
English (2)
Football (1)
Graphic Design (1)
History (1)
Mathematics (1)

Loni Berry,
the owner of Culture
Collective Studios

©© Piano (1)
©© Poetry /
Spoken Word (1)
©© Science (1)
©© Scriptwriting (1)
©© Singing (1)
©© Videography (1)

These students investigate “red”
from every perspective they can think
of: What are physical properties of
red? What are the meanings of red?
What are the emotion qualities of
red? What are some examples of how
red has been used? How does red
affect form and function?
There is no limit to the
number of questions that
can be asked, only a
limit the time the students have to an[The students]
swer them. This
learn that everything,
information is
including inventions
shared and discussed as a group.
and discoveries yet to
are far more
From there, an arcome, is multi-faceted.
imaginative
tistic presentation
and creative
is created. It is not
than expected.
to be a theatre projI have never seen
ect, nor a play or a skit.
—Loni Berry
a presentation that
It is a collage of ideas that
anyone considered to be
includes input from all of the
a failure or not entertaining.
students. Yes, this will result in perThe quality of execution is rarely an
formance, which could include whatissue, being that students try to avoid
ever the students decide: song and
embarrassment at all costs. A high level
dance, video, poetry, or standup comedy. Who knows?
of quality control is quickly established.
The students are guided through
Students leave the workshop with
the process only with suggestions
a different concept of education.
and reality checks as to what
They understand that the separation
is possible within the time and
of academic disciplines is simply one
budget. Students do, however,
education model. Most importantly,
receive instruction in execution.
they learn that everything, including
Often several professional artists,
inventions and discoveries yet to
representing a range of disciplines,
come, is multi-faceted and that
participate by spending a few hours
compartmentalized study is a matter
with the students as they work.
of convenience, inspired by a concept
My experience has been that the
of efficiency. Life-long learning skills
students create presentations that
are reinforced in these workshops.
24 WANDERLUST

Collaboration, critical thinking,
curiosity, imagination, initiative,
the ability to gather and analyze
information, and communication (both
written and oral) are only some of the
benefits of interdisciplinary education.
Practical knowledge, such as
scientific facts, mathematical
equations, important historical
dates, are all more palatable and
memorable when they are included
in original songs, dances, videos,
sports, plays, poetry, etc.
Culture Collective Studio’s goal
is introduce students to theatre as a
discipline that necessarily includes all
aspects of life. As the interest in theatre
declines, strong efforts must be made
to ensure that theatre remains part
of the societal fabric. The benefits of
theatre can be gained nowhere else,
and an interdisciplinary approach to
education is certainly an effective key.”
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