Creative Ecologies in Higher Education: Students', Educators', and Leaders' Experiences of Creativity in Canada and Australia

Session Type: Symposium

Abstract

This symposium explores the experiences of students at McGill (QC), instructors and faculty at Toronto Metropolitan University (ON) and leadership at RMIT, Melbourne (Australia) from diverse programs. It aims to advance applications of the ‘creative ecology’ conceptual framework (Harris, 2016) through applied performative, arts and creative approaches in transdisciplinary contexts (e.g. education, design and higher education). The three approaches underline the importance of interrogating truth-claims in education research, urgently needed today as conservative forces remain unmoved by empirical evidence and data-based education reform. A holistic creative ecological approach for advancing relational, justice-oriented education urges us to consider the ways in which a rewilding of creativity in education may provide tools for improving educational practice, wellbeing, and sustainability.

Sub Unit

• SIG-Arts and Learning

Chair

• Daniel X. Harris, RMIT University

Papers

• Performing Creative Leadership: Co-Designing Leadership Change in Teacher Education and Research - Daniel X. Harris, RMIT University; Julia Vagg, RMIT University

• Designing Classroom Experiences to Foster Creative Agency With Preservice Teachers in a Communication Class - Mindy Roberta Carter, McGill University; Natalie V. Tacuri, McGill University

• Visualizing Pedagogies of Creativity Through Typographic Drawings - Layal Shuman, Toronto Metropolitan University; Christopher Blomkwist, Toronto Metropolitan University