Graphic Design as a Medium to Enhance Students’ Knowledge of Malaysian Cultural Art Forms
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Published:
Jul 19, 2019
Keywords:
Cultural Responsive Teaching Graphic Design Education Cultural Art Forms Communication
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Abstract
The principles of graphic design are pertinent in graphic design education, ensuring students are well equipped with the knowledge that guides them to produce sound design work. While abiding to these principles when producing graphic works, it is just as important for students to understand their knowledge of local art forms. Through the researcher’s experience, she has found that much of the students’ graphic work lack local art forms in their content. As a communication medium between the researcher (lecturer) and the students, graphic design education hence became the platform for students to learn about Malaysian cultural art forms (MCAF). Using a case study action research approach, underpinned by some Culturally Responsive Teaching (CRT) principles, the research explored a group of 20 graphic design students’ initial understanding of their knowledge of Malaysian cultural art forms (MCAF). Then intervention activities that incorporated MCAF in the Malaysian graphic design class were implemented after which the students initial understanding of their knowledge in MCAF were determined. In Cycle 1, the researcher conducted a focus group interview and administered questionnaires to gauge students’ initial understanding of MCAF. In Cycle 2 intervention activities were incorporated into the classroom learning. The interventions were, a visit to a contemporary Malaysian art exhibition; participation in a batik workshop; a visit and hands-on experience making some craft work at a Mah Meri cultural village, and attending a talk about wayang kulit, as well as viewing some wayang kulit exhibits. Upon the completion of each activity, the students had to answer a questionnaire with regards to their learning and understanding of each of the MCAF. A focus group interview was conducted at Cycle 3 for triangulation of data. Findings show that the students did not have much knowledge nor understanding of MCAF before participating in the intervention activities. However, the students’ knowledge appeared enhanced after participating in the intervention activities.
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References
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Bransford, J. D., Brown, A. L. & Cocking, R. R. (Eds) (2000). How People Learn: Brain, Mind, Experience and School. Washington, US: National Academies Press.
Brown University. (2017). Culturally Responsive Teaching. Retrieved from https://www.brown.edu/academics/education-alliance/teaching-diverse-learners/strategies-0/culturally-responsive-teaching-0
Bruner, J. S. (1996). The Culture of Education. Massachusetts: Harvard University Press.
Comenius, J. A. (1896). The Great Didactic. London: Adam & Charles Black.
Cross, K. P. (1999). Learning is About Making Connections. The Cross Papers. Retrieved from https://djames84.net/Cert_51/Learning%20Is%20About%20Connections.pdf
EACEA. (2008). Access of Young People to Culture. Barcelona: Interarts.
Ekwueme, C. O., Ekon, E. E. & Ezenwa-Nebife, D. C. (2015). The Impact of Hands-On Approach to Student Academic Performance in Basic Science and Mathematics. Higher Education Studies, 5(6), pp. 47-51.
Gay, G. (2002). Preparing for Culturally Responsive Teaching. Journal of Teacher Education, 53 (2), pp.106-116.
Hadjiyanni, T. (2014). Beginning with Concept: Deconstructing the Complexity of “Culture” through Art in Design Education. International Journal of Education through Art, 10(1), pp.23-39.
Hamdy, B. “Changing Identity: A Critical Perspective on Integrating Culture in Graphic Design Education in the Arab World”, Proceedings of The DesignEd Asia Conference 2010: Asian Culture: Preserve the Past Create the Future, Eds, Tim Jachna and Sylvia Tzvetanova Yung. The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, 2010. (juried/international)
Hansen, R. E. (2000). The Role of Experience in Learning: Giving Meaning and Authenticity to the Learning Process in Schools. Journal of Technology Education, 11(2), pp. 23-32.
Hollins, E. R. (1996). Culture in School Learning: Revealing the Deep Meaning. Mahwah, New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum.
Hollis, R. (2001). Graphic design: A Concise History. London: Thames & Hudson.
Howard, C. T. (2012). Culturally Responsive Pedagogy. In J.A. Banks (Ed.) Encyclopedia of Diversity in Education. Thousand Oaks: Sage.
Huitt, W. (1998, April). Measurement, Evaluation and Research: Ways of Knowing. Education Psychology Interactive. Valdosta, GA: Valdosta State University.
Khoury, M. P. & Khoury, T. E. (2009). “Cultural Identity Crisis within Contemporary Graphic Design, Case Study: Lebanon”, Conference Proceedings: MX Design Conference 2009: Impacto Social, Mexico City, Mexico. Also presented at: WCCES 14th World Congress of Comparative Education Societies and Bogazici University, Istanbul, Turkey.
Kolb, D. A. (2014). Experiential Learning: Experience as the Source of Learning and Development (2nd ed.). New Jersey: Pearson FT Press.
Ladson-Billings, G. (1994). The dreamkeepers. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publishing Co.
Lee, N. (2012). Culturally Responsive Teaching for 21st Century Education: Examining Race in a Studio Art Experience. Art Education, pp.48-53.
Marshall, C. M. (2007). Cultural Identity, Creative Processes, and Imagination: Creating Cultural Connections through Art Making. Journal of Cultural Research in Art Education, 1(2), pp. 1-11.
Mertler, C. A. (2012). Action Research: Improving Schools and Empowering Educators. (3rd ed.) USA: SAGE Publications.
National Culture Policy | JKNN. (2016) Jknn.gov.my. Retrieved 16 July 2016, from https://www.jknn.gov.my/en/national-culture-policy
NCERT. (2011). Graphic Design Processes. In Towards a New Age Graphic Design. India: National Council of Education and Training.
Nieto, S. (2000). Affirming diversity. New York: Longman.
Paivio, A. (1969). Mental Imagery in Associative Learning and Memory. Psychological Review, 76, 241e263. doi:10.1037/h0027272
Rycus, J. S. & Hughes, R. C. (2001). Levels of Learning: A Framework for Organising Inservice Training. Institute for Human Services, pp. 1-10.
Santoro, S.W. (2014). Guide to Graphic Design. USA: Pearson.
Storkerson, P. (2009) Experiential Knowledge, Knowing and Thinking. EKSIG 2009: Experiential Knowledge, Method and Methodology (19 June 2009), London Metropolitan University, Visual Arts Practice Group of Sir John Cass Department of Art, Media and Design, UK.
Stultz, L.M. (2006). Cultural Identity, Voice, and Agency in Post-Secondary Graphic Design Education. (PhD Thesis, Georgia State University).
Wagner, J. & Watch, D. (2017). Innovation Spaces: The New Design of Work. The Anne T. and Robert M. Initiative on Innovation and Placemaking, April 2017, pp. 4-58.
Wilson, F. R. (1999). The Real Meaning of Hands On Education, Institute for Development of Education Activities (IDEA) Los Angeles, July 1999. USA: Waldorf Research Bulletin.