“The pandemic has changed the way we work, learn and teach. Today, being able to provide opportunities to engage online collapses physical distance and brings community together.”
The AGA Education team launched three new online programs this Fall to meet the shifting needs of schools and educators today. Led by Head of Education & Learning, Dara Armsden, the team was able to bring the Art Gallery into the virtual classroom. With programs connected to current exhibitions and ties to noteworthy Canadian Group of Seven artwork and the 2020 Biennial of Contemporary Art, students can learn about big ideas on the smallest of screens.
With this new growth into online programming, the AGA Education team expect to see an increase in engagement. “Being able to innovate new ways of teaching is exciting!” says Dara. Normally, the AGA Education studios see over 20,000 kids, students and teachers each year. “We are building online capacity in our programs with a mind to sustainability. Blended learning environments will continue to be important going forward.”
Of course, a lot goes into developing this online programming to make it ready for students. Creating a new program from conception to completion could take anywhere between 30 and 225 hours, depending on the program and outcomes.
The most important thing in pivoting to online? “Being adaptable and open to change,” Dara asserts. “The arts have a lot to offer in terms of community building and coming together. So many benefits that are not just discussion-based but are related to physical and mental health. Our strategy has always been to provide authentic learning experiences for kids so they can practice what they learn in the classroom and apply it in a new context.”
If you are interested in learning more about the school programs we have to offer, visit us here.
