Sharon Chu | University of Toronto (original) (raw)

Papers by Sharon Chu

The study describes the teaching experience of teacher trainees in museum as an educational field... more The study describes the teaching experience of teacher trainees in museum as an educational field, with the support of adequate methods, for developing and improving multiple intelligence skill in primary school students. For this purpose, each 4th year students of Educational Faculty has been matched with a 4 th grade student from the primary school in Bozarmut. They conducted a predetermined activity program for a half-day schedule in Mu la Museum.At the end of the workshop all participants (Primary school students, teacher trainees , class teachers) have been asked to give a written evaluation of th e day. As a result, it is concluded that this process facilitates multiple intelligence skills development in children, through active participation in both individual & group activities. All research participants came to the same conclusion: that children lea rn and entertain at the same time while developing their awareness of the importance of our cultural assets.

In the light of 20 years of experience in Middle East Technical University (METU) Music and Fine ... more In the light of 20 years of experience in Middle East Technical University (METU) Music and Fine Arts Department (MFAD), this paper focuses on fine arts courses offered to students from different disciplines. The methods used in elective art courses for university students and their outcomes are discussed. The necessity of implementing a different method of education for elective art courses than for fine arts faculties is of concern. Although artistic practice is at the heart of both systems, different methods are utilized. This subject will be exemplified with METU MFAD students and their art works. The expression of artistic impulsion is considered to be characterized by our efforts to attribute meaning to the environment. As we transform our lives into a life experience, we suppress this impulsion. Eventually, we come to regard what has been imposed, taught and accepted by everyone. First, our family and our environment, then teachers are involved in teaching what is right, normal, and reasonable to us. Gradually, our boundaries are drawn. In adolescence, we make a last-ditch effort to change our boundaries, but we are tied hand and foot as if we are wearing a shrink jacket. Adolescence comes and goes and we become normalized. We try to be the odd one, yet we become the same. As we try to be sensible, responsible and respectable, we do what is expected from us. In fact, we become our parents. We come to live a life that has been prescribed and designed by our parents. Though there is nothing wrong with this, self 1 is now buried very deep. Maybe, one of the last opportunities for exploring the self is the elective art courses offered at universities despite their limited outreach. Fine Arts courses are part of the compulsory elective courses program that was legalized by The Council of Higher Education (YÖK) in 1981 to be implemented in universities (lhan, 1993) 2. The program was introduced in 1983-1984 education year; its compulsory status was removed in 1993. Now, almost twenty years have passed since lhan's (1993) ten-year analysis of elective fine arts courses and thirty years since the program was introduced. Unfortunately, the current analysis shows that the problems addressed by lhan (1993) 3 still persist and not much * Ödül I tman. 1 The word self is used to denote a conscious individual's act of differentiating hims/herself from others 2 The Council of Higher Education (YÖK) has also published a framework that contained information regarding which areas could be offered as a course, the aims of the courses, and the topics (especially the theoretical ones) to be covered as part of the courses. For detailed information, please see; doctorate thesis by Ay e Çak r lhan (1993) titled "An Evaluation of Elective Fine Arts Courses in Universities in Turkey". 3 The findings of Ilhan's study (1993) were summarized as follows: "Research has shown that in many universities, annual plans for these courses were not made in line with their aims. With its positive effects on youth education, Fine Arts courses do attract students' attention. They want to develop themselves in different areas. There are different

Becoming a specialized discipline, exhibition design has many types including museum design. Work... more Becoming a specialized discipline, exhibition design has many types including museum design. Working on an exhibition design for a museum, graphic designer has to select the right visual elements to contact with the visitors. In the case of Exhibition design for the Museum of Mimar Kemaleddin, a multidisciplinary process can be observed as an integrated approach. Not only working with various disciplines but also creating a design system for an exhibition is the main goal of the exhibition designer. Examining the design process of the Museum Mimar Kemaleddin is an example for comprehending the complexity of an exhibition design.

The emphasis on educational functions of museums increase with each passing day. At the present d... more The emphasis on educational functions of museums increase with each passing day. At the present day, these establishments exist for being in the service of the community, open themselves to the public use, research the materials which are the proofs of environment and the humanity and they effect the life long learning process of the society through contemporary educational concepts. Museums sometimes target only art lovers, science lovers or children and young people and make their own collections according to the needs of the target audiences and their curiosity. In this study, the evolutional development, aims and the momentum of children's museums, which are 'learning by doing centers' and are evaluated in turn. Children's museums, such as science, technology and discovery centers, are also alternative and innovative spaces for school education to supply active children's participation into learning. There is not any children's museum in Turkey but there are also some efforts for establishing. In addition to the identification of children's museums, the necessity of them and current situation of museum education in Turkey are also evaluated through related samples.

Many educational practices within an art museum setting lack a substantial theoretical ground to ... more Many educational practices within an art museum setting lack a substantial theoretical ground to underpin visual arts mediation. The absence of theoretical foundations and well-defined aims is detrimental to the quality of learning processes of museum visitors. Constructivist theories consider a multilayered structure of museum learning to meet visitors' diverse learning needs which presupposes different strategies from the museum staff. The paper presents an integrative model of visual arts mediation for the design of theoretically well-founded arts education practices, which can be embedded in different learning contexts.

The study describes the teaching experience of teacher trainees in museum as an educational field... more The study describes the teaching experience of teacher trainees in museum as an educational field, with the support of adequate methods, for developing and improving multiple intelligence skill in primary school students. For this purpose, each 4th year students of Educational Faculty has been matched with a 4 th grade student from the primary school in Bozarmut. They conducted a predetermined activity program for a half -day schedule in Mu la Museum.At the end of the workshop all participants ( Primary school students, teacher trainees , class teachers) have been asked to give a written evaluation of th e day. As a result, it is concluded that this process facilitates multiple intelligence skills development in children, through active participation in both individual & group activities. All research participants came to the same conclusion: that children lea rn and entertain at the same time while developing their awareness of the importance of our cultural assets.