LAA open house

Reflections on GSEL project (The Little Arts Academy Open House 20-23 Nov 2008 )

1. Through the project, I learnt to accept different opinions and ideas of others. Constructive criticisms make us aware of our individual differences and of peer reactions. I want to bring this experience to my students and get them to know their own individuality and not be fearful of their expressing their personal opinions.

2. Serendipity learning is an unintentional outcome of exploratory learning of efforts. We tend to seek order and meaning in our lives, and the acknowledgment of our inability to predict and control events of some importance may be highly unsettling (Bandura, 1998). As can be seen in the project, students have a rewarding experience if they explore with curiosity and without inhibition.

3. Play is designed primarily for enjoyment; it has a dose of fantasy and is internally motivated. As can be seen in the gsel project, the arts, used as a “play” allows the students to imagine, try out different roles, tests their own behaviours without the fear of reprisal. Through the arts, the students can investigate the sensory qualities of the environment; understand their own emotions, feelings and their own social setting and the world they live in. I understand that though the arts seen as “play” is considered not important as it seems to achieve nothing, the gains made during the process of art are of enormous importance.

Felicity Lim Sy Hing