The mission of the Pedagogy Arts Collective at Berklee is to foster a collaborative and dynamic community of educators in the pursuit of effective and innovative teaching. Through the pragmatic exploration of pedagogy, educational psychology, technology, student/educator demographics and self-evaluation, the Pedagogy Arts Collective fosters and maximizes holistic excellence in the science and art of education.
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Curiosity about Cultures: The Intentionality and Responsibility of Curricular Planning
Velina Hasu Houston and Pedagogy Arts Collective
Broadening and deepening of students’ perspectives of global and domestic humanity cannot be accomplished without equally deep and broad exploration of cultures, class standings, and sociopolitical backgrounds that differ from that of the mainstream. Teachers must be curious about such differences and, with intentionality, provide curricula that integrate these differences. Such efforts contribute healthfully and comprehensively to students’ education and support their cultivation of society.
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Developing Our Students' Creation-Driven Mindsets
Betsy Newman and Pedagogy Arts Collective
As faculty and educators, we are all responsible for creating an environment that will foster our students’ personal, creative, and artistic growth. This session will introduce a research-based framework that explains how students develop a creation-driven mindset; and the ways in which the educational experiences we provide (or don’t provide) influence it. Through the exploration of five developmental domains—(1) recognizing the unintended consequences of success-as-prescribed; (2) discovering creative drive; (3) building creative agency; (4) negotiating degrees of creative freedom; and, (5) catalyzing creative growth—we’ll explore some practical considerations for designing—with greater intention—educational experiences that advance each student’s development journey.
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It's Not the World We Grew Up In: A Conversations About Skills for Learning and Thriving
Ellen Galinsky and Pedagogy Arts Collective
Over the past 20 years, the science of what helps students and adults learn and thrive has become increasingly clear and irrefutable, revealing that strong executive function (EF) skills of the brain are predictive of achievement, health, well-being, and quality of life—often even more so than IQ or socioeconomic status. These are the skills we all need to foster positive mental health, achieve academic and career success, and contribute to a thriving workforce. In this session, we will discuss these skills and how you can apply them to your own teaching and learning.
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Power and Empowerment: Honoring Students in Instructional Design
Andratesha Fritzgerald and Pedagogy Arts Collective
Equitable and inclusive learning environments are built on the choices of individuals. This session will explore the notions of power and empowerment that are made evident in our decisions, our designs and our outcomes. Participants will: Explore the definitions of honor and power Evaluate power filled choices and examine the implications of power in equitable access to learning. Begin co-creating a community of educators who are conscious of how to use power to honor learners in instruction and assessment.
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In Search of Dynamic Balance: Making the Most of Critical Incidents in Teaching and Learning
Dennis Shirley and Pedagogy Arts Collective
Even the best and most experienced of educators sometimes get stuck in cul-de-sacs where we don't know how to engage our students or how to respond to unexpected situations. In this interactive workshop we'll explore the complex blend of challenges and opportunities that can surface in and out of classes, and the ways that we can use our creativity and curiosity to transform initially awkward encounters into deep and transformative learning experiences.
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GO-PAC Culture Capsule: Elevating Our Understanding and Support for Colombian and Latin American Students
Pedagogy Arts Collective
The Global Open - Pedagogy Arts Collective (GO-PAC) extends Berklee’s pioneering arts pedagogy worldwide, embracing all facets of creative arts education. Through comprehensive pedagogy training and community engagement, GO-PAC is dedicated to innovative pedagogy, educational psychology, and technology integration, preparing arts educators to excel in n ever-changing learning landscape. GO-PAC embodies teaching excellence while amplifying unique cultural perspectives and facilitating ongoing collaboration within a transformative global network.
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Your Brain on Art
Susan Magsamen and Pedagogy Arts Collective
Neuroaesthetics, or neuroarts, studies how arts and aesthetic experiences impact the body, brain, and behavior, with implications for health and wellbeing. It explores changes in interconnected physiological systems, including neural, psychological, immune, endocrine, circulatory, respiratory, and higher-order brain functions. Susan’s talk will share research and practice about how this knowledge can be used to enhance learning, mental health, cognition and creativity. She will also share ways we can create and use neuroarts practices in our everyday lives.
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Teaching and Learning in the Arts, A Brain Science Perspective
Allison Posey and Pedagogy Arts Collective
We know that each student is unique - our brains are as unique as our fingerprints. This neurodiversity can be overwhelming for educators to plan for - yet is critical to ensuring rigorous academic learning and fostering a sense of belonging. In this session, we’ll explore brain science insights, including executive functions and the role of emotions, to enhance course design for all learners. We’ll apply strategies like the Unlearning Cycle and reflect on how a brain-based approach supports meaningful learning, particularly in the arts
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Bridging Traditional and Commercial Worlds and Music Together in the Music Theory Classroom
Jennifer Snodgrass and Pedagogy Arts Collective
This presentation will focus on several elements of teaching music theory to both traditional and commercial students. Focus will be placed on creative and pedagogically sound assessments, implementation of play and musical experiences, and how to use backwards design to make meaningful learning objectives for musicianship courses. Through my own journey as a classically trained opera singer and music theorist to my current position in Nashville where I interact with commercial writers, producers, and performers on a daily basis, I have developed a true appreciation on how to effectively blend these populations in a meaningful musicianship learning experience.
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Charisma in Education: What Role Does It Play...and Is It Really Necessary?
Roya Hu, Ross Bressler, Alicia Bower, Enrique Gonzalez Müller, and Pedagogy Arts Collective
Join us for an exploration of the role of charisma and enthusiasm in education! How essential, optional or inconsequential are they when we teach and lead teams? This panel of diverse, excellent communicators will delve into how charisma influences teaching effectiveness, student engagement, and learning outcomes, institutional progress and team building.