Exploring pattern in design with Year 10 boys and an Artist in Residence 

​The Find Your Style unit offered at Year 10 is a problem based unit that involves students participating in a range of workshops run both by the teacher and experts in our community that support them to explore new techniques for manufacturing and designer fashion items. Then based on these skills they propose their own project that connects these skills to new contexts that interest them, developing a brief, success criteria and a work plan.
 
This particular workshop featured an Artist in Residence – a print maker. Prior to class we met 2 times to outline the context, look at where the students were staring from and arranged for the logistics of running this kind of activity without running water in the learning space. We also identified the explicit learning outcomes to make sure the students understood the context of the activity aligned to their studies.
 
The workshop itself was engaging and introduced students to a new skill they would otherwise not have access too. Accessing experts at point of need who were also able to provide trouble shooting and future directions and ideas was a powerful tool for engaging. It also connected for learners what was happening in the classroom to possible avenues of application beyond the  classroom. It was beneficial for the Artist as well – she reflected that she gained insight into challenges the students encountered and can refine her workshop practice based on this.