In its full implementation, Media Arts Education (MAE) can serve as a central, inter-connective content area and versatile “makerspace” that is capable of shifting paradigms of student learning and advancing systemic 21st century educational transformation.
Traditional education is based on an industrial factory model, whereby, in general, students still passively acquire standardized content within fixed, subject area sequences. This regimented process is teacher and content centered, reduces the relevance and authentic application of content, and does not support diverse student abilities, interests and flexible learning pathways. This system ultimately does not adequately prepare students for 21st century conditions.
In our media arts-based world, we are increasingly learning, creating and connecting through rapidly evolving and decentralized forms of interactive multimedia. As with media arts in the world, MAE is highly versatile in its digital forms and capacities, conceivably forming an interconnective “virtual laboratory”, or networks of laboratories, which provide students the ability to produce or design and share any product, expression or experience imaginable. The full potential of MAE is the incorporation of this “virtual plasticity” of media arts production and design within the traditional educational system to foster its pedagogically coherent, student-centered, 21st century transition.
MAE replicates media arts’ diverse forms and capacities within classrooms, supporting interdisciplinary, project-based learning experiences based in students’ interests and responsive to community needs. MAE essentially forms an adaptable virtual laboratory for all students to apply content knowledge towards mastery. With its enriched contexts and varied forms, tools and methods, students can authentically enact various roles as artists, designers, inventors, scientists, mathematicians, historians, entrepreneurs, producers, managers, manufacturers, and technicians. Thus, students of MAE are empowered to become active cultural participants and producers of knowledge, while gaining the competencies necessary for 21st century academic and career success.
Students of MAE can master core academic and arts content through engaging experiences that instill creative problem solving, effective communications, team collaboration, and critical thinking. They also gain critical literacies in media, technology and digital culture essential to becoming informed, discerning and engaged citizens. A sequential and multifaceted MAE program provides ample opportunities for individual exploration and growth, which support the student’s development of self-directed inquiry and lifelong learning.
Furthermore, MAE can be implemented across traditional school divisions and with external community partners. Across collaborative networks, learning experiences and creative products can be produced and shared locally and globally. Thus, MAE could become an expanding network of centers for innovation in learning and creating, catalyzing systemic educational transformation.
