Implementation of ‘ReFake It’ (SOI-HU-79)
The learning scenario ‘ReFake It‘ was created by Éva Tóth and implemented by Csilla Németh from Hungary. I decided on this scenario because our complex institution hosts a Vocational school of Arts.
Timeline of the implementation
Originally my implementation was planned to be done in 5 lessons. However, due to a so-called unexpectedly high engagement of the students in the main activity, I extended the work with one more lesson. The learning scenario was implemented in an English language group among 14-15-year-old art students. Altogether, 14 students participated in the project.
The process of implementation
As we were coming to an end of our school year and we closed our last learning unit, I offered the possibility to do something beneficial and still have some fun in the rest of our remaining time. After getting a positive answer, I outlined the forthcoming activities. That is the special refake of some artistic works and the edition of a magazine page based on their collaborative pair work and findings.
In the first lesson, I presented the Europeana portal to my students and explained how they can browse safely for free usable images. Basically, the main instruction was to find an image which they can change. I gave them some criteria to follow, namely, they should find a picture showing more than one person. Also, they should be able to alter it as if their working pair were in it and the year of the remake would be the 2050’s. I let them agree on the style and materials they preferred to use for creating the new image. This part of the project was so successful that they needed 3 lessons to finish their work instead of the planned 2.
When they were ready, they scanned their work of arts and started to collect ideas about the magazine page. Shortly I got them familiar with the use of the MADMAGZ website which allowed them to create an e-magazine. I asked them to include their converted image. Moreover, they could choose to make an interview with the artists who created the piece of art or write an article about the artists and the image.
Summary and reflections
Personally, I was really afraid of the outcome of this project. As this was the first time I gave my students a totally free hand to create something on their own during a chain of lessons. The biggest risk of the implementation was the introduction of this activity itself. I didn’t really know how my students would react to the task. Finally, I have to admit that those moments when there is no such control are priceless. Ultimately, each of the pairs finished their images. But some students’ enthusiasm seemed to lower during the magazine editorial phase.
Did you find this story of implementation interesting? Why don’t you read about the related learning scenario?
The featured image used to illustrate belongs to the Public Domain.