Art & Nature: Hybrid online Learning Outdoors

What is it about?

This innovative project addresses the challenges faced in teaching Fine Arts during the COVID-19 pandemic, when face-to-face classes were not possible due to health security measures. Specifically, the aim of the project was to find a way for students of "Painting and Landscape" at the University of Murcia (Spain) to engage in hands-on learning despite the restrictions of travel and face-to-face activities. The solution? To encourage students to work independently but collaboratively outside the classroom by observing and creating art based on their local trees. Through personalised instructions, students were guided to explore their environment, focusing on the unique trees of the region, and represent them artistically. This approach served as a dynamic complement to traditional teaching methods, encouraging cooperative learning in a hybrid format. It allowed students to expand their knowledge of the environment while maintaining social ties with their peers and instructors. In addition, their individual experiences and artistic creations were combined to produce a collaborative book entitled "Singular Trees of the Region of Murcia". By engaging learners in this way, the project aimed to bridge the gap caused by online learning, ensuring that learners remained connected and curious about their environment. It aimed to make learning more engaging and relatable by linking concepts to students' real-life experiences. Overall, this innovative approach received a positive response from students, as it provided an effective and enjoyable way of learning despite the challenges posed by the pandemic.

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Photo by Fabrice Villard on Unsplash

Photo by Fabrice Villard on Unsplash

Why is it important?

This innovative project stands out for its timely adaptation amid the COVID-19 pandemic, offering a solution to the limitations faced in Fine Arts education. It creatively merges independent yet collaborative learning outside the classroom, focusing on local arboreal heritage. By fostering cooperative art creation and publication, it not only enriches learning experiences but also addresses the challenges of remote teaching, keeping students engaged and connected. Its uniqueness lies in bridging the gap between online learning and practical engagement, offering a novel approach to maintain social ties while exploring the local environment. This work's relevance lies in its potential to inspire educators facing similar challenges, providing a blueprint for hybrid teaching methods and fostering a sense of community despite physical limitations. By emphasizing real-life connections and experiential learning, it could attract readers seeking innovative educational approaches in a post-pandemic world, contributing valuable insights for enhancing remote and in-person teaching experiences.

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