Chapter 11 discussion from Katie and Thaeley

Hello!

Today, we are going to interact and respond to chapter 11, which discusses intergenerational learning. From this reading, the most important concept was intergenerational learning within the community.

 

LATA 65 is a group that has come together to eliminate the stereotypes of older generations and of street art. The goal is to open up street art to all ages to create solidarity between all groups that are involved. This group is empowering senior citizens to create tags that represent them. The group then takes the citizens to a part of the town where they are able to paint their tags on a surface.

What is intergenerational learning?

•   Art belongs to everyone, regardless of age (Greenberg, 2014). Intergenerational art making in a community brings individuals from different age groups together to make visual statements (p. 84).

•   Some participants who first engage in intergenerational partnerships may feel apprehensive about working with people from different backgrounds. Fortunately, as many of these fears dissolve participants can develop bonds and greater understanding of one another (Mbugua, Wadas, Casey & Finnerty, 2014; Wakefield & Ericson, 2003).

•   Unsung heroes are precious community resources who have the desire and skills to assist teachers in achieving great education endeavors for their students. Their services can truly benefit educators who may sometimes feel overwhelm by large class sizes and/or lack of experience in that subject area (p.89).

•   Our society views senior citizens and people with hardships and/or disabilities as people who need to be served rather than valuing the service these community members can provide to society (Sommerfield, 1995).

•   It is important to focus on an individual strength and capabilities rather than hardships and/or disabilities (p. 88).

Resources

            Intergenerational Learning Changes Learning, Changes Lives

            Intergenerational Activities & Articles at Penn State

            G2: Generation Two: Creating Intergenerational Friendships Video

Now that we have reviewed chapter 11, please respond to these questions and

activity in your blog.

1)    What ways could you tap into your community to enrich your curriculum? Please think of your own example and try to consider our unsung heroes, people who's talents are sometimes hidden.

2)    If you invited a group of volunteers from a different into your classroom, how would you prepare your students to have appropriate and effective conversations? Please provide 3 examples.

3)    Define what a mentor means to you. Interview someone in your life from another generation who has impacted your life. Reflect on how a conversation with someone from another generation can influence your art classroom. Provide a dialogue, photograph, or audio from this experience.

“We learn from them “the children” and they learn from us… words do not explain this. Like I said, it’s a new beginning for me. It opened my eyes to new bigger and better things in life, things I didn’t know about. Anything is possible” (p. 87)