The Learning Zone

Many changes at OCAD U this year, let’s talk about it!

OCAD University is experiencing a growth—new Deans, programs and courses amidst the challenge to find the resources to support the expanding activities, while trying to find the time to navigate through the university program, as well as personal objectives including curriculum, exhibitions, events, and deadlines.

Finding the opportunity to evaluate and share the experience of our learning environment can be hard to manage, but some important questions need to be asked:

How is teaching and learning working for you at OCADU? What are some of the assumptions that are made about an OCAD U students, and what is expected of us as students, artists, and members of the university community? Better yet, how have we worked collaboratively for change? What coping strategies have we found? What groups we have organized?

Dr. Pam Patterson’s students from CROS 4B02 Art & Design Education Lab: Community Leadership class invites all students, faculty, staff and alumni to engage and contribute to their research project How Are You OCAD U, hosted in OCAD U Library’s Learning Zone.

Students from this class created an installation wall featuring questions about how OCAD U functions as a learning community, seeking critical perspectives as well as feedback on what is successful in our environment and should be expanded.

Towards the end of the semester responses collected from this research project will be compiled and reflected in a handmade publication to share amongst the OCAD U community.

Please come by the Learning Zone to share your experiences, add your questions and comments to our wall. Bring your issues, perspectives and ideas forward!

It’s Freedom to Read Week! Join OCAD U Library until March 1 to celebrate intellectual freedom, visit the “Don’t Read Me I’m Banned “display.

On display are books from the library’s collection that have been banned or challenged around the world, as recently as 2010.

Free a banned book from the censor’s wrappings! Check out a title today.

 

 

Maybe you’ve noticed artworks scattered around the Learning Zone. They’re taking over every surface: covering the walls, the counter tops, the cabinet. It’s all part of a new exhibit featuring the work of first year students.

The EC/Static 2014 exhibit — featuring photography, print making, 2D animation, Indigenous sculpture and more — officially launches tomorrow night at an opening reception party, running from 5:30 to 6:30pm in the Learning Zone.

If you can’t make it to the opening reception, stop by before January 27th to have a look at all the work on display.

The Dorothy H. Hoover Library is hosting I Have a Novel Idea, BOOK IT TO THE SHOW! INTM – Library Installations  created by students Alex Avanesi, Jae Min Bae, Elisa Ochmanck and Eun Mi Ahn from Paulette Philips’ 3rd year INTM Media Studio – Practice and Critiques class.

This exhibition features site specific anologue installations and a virtual interactive piece which explore the application of technology on communication.

Faculty of Design instructor, Lynne Heller, brings another stellar year of student artwork from her MAAD Fibre: Concept Development class to the Learning Zone.

Currently exhibiting are fibre based projects employing one hundred elements inspired by the idea of ritual and repetition. The concept of ritual and repetition is examined as an exploration of process, material and technique.

Using various textiles, materials, techniques and activities such as collecting, stitching, drawing, crocheting, sewing, collage and weaving, the students created unique handmade pieces of artwork.

Visit the Learning Zone today, and appreciate the intricate handmade quality of these pieces.