RESEARCH

As a Ph.D. Candidate at Concordia University in Art Education, my research flows through a feminist lens weaving 3 key threads: uncovering and supporting quality within the art teacher experience, new materialities within the quantum field, specifically within spirit of place and sustainability as an art practice.

CURRENT PROJECTS

CANADIAN ART TEACHER JOURNAL

Working with Marie-France Berard of UBC as Co-Editors of Canadian Art Teacher / Enseigner les Arts au Canada, along with Emma June Huebner, Guest Editor, we have just completed our first issue, CAT 19.1, based on papers presented at the 2021 Graduate Student Symposium.

The Canadian Art Teacher/Enseigner les arts of Canada (CAT) is peer-reviewed and published semi-annually by the Canadian Society for Education through Art. The goal of the journal is to enable the exchange of exciting teaching ideas, to disseminate novel art education research, and to discuss pertinent issues in the field. Readers and contributors include artists, educators, and researchers interested in teaching and learning in the visual arts.

ARWAE 2023 PHO YOU, PHO Me, PHO US, HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM, 2023

PRSENTATION: CREATING A JOURNAL FOR THE INTERNATIONAL ART TEACHER

ARWAE conferences have been instrumental in providing a space of collaborative encounter where artistic practices are shared and art teachers from ARWAE schools are given an inspirational weekend of attending to and engaging in our creative world. To further support VA teachers, inspired by my work with the Canadian Art Teacher journal, in my presentation, I proposed the creation of a journal for the Visual Arts Teachers of International Schools to elevate, inform and inspire the practice of art teachers in international schools today.
The goal of my presentation, through collective art making, was an opportunity to brainstorm, explore pedagogical ideas and be a space of dialogue on what ARWAE teachers value and find important as art educators in international schools in complex times.

INSEA 2023 FAULTLINES, CANNAKALE, TURKEY, 2023

PRESENTATIONS:
CAN SPIRIT OF PLACE TRANSCEND? A RESEARCH CREATION EXPLORATION OF NEW MATERIALISM INSPIRED BY OKAKURA KAKUZO
UNEARTHING THE PROCESS: A/R/TOGRAPHY WITHIN THE SECONDARY VISUAL ARTS CLASSROOM

Travelling toe Cannakale in Turkey to present at INSEA 2023 was definitely its own little Odyssey! But getting to visit the ancient site of Troy and to explore sites that have formed our humanities consciousness, learn about traditional tile making and just breathe in the crisp clean (windy) air of the Baltic was mesmerizing.
I was grateful to be able to share two of my current research directions; A/R/Tography within the Secondary Classroom and my own auto-ethnographic research in Spirit of Place through the works of Okakura Kakuzo presenting in groups with educators of like minds was a blessing.
Both presented in Cannakale, Turkey, September 2023

Annual International Practical Conference for Art Teachers in the Modern School; The Role of the Art Subject in the International Baccalaureate Program, International School of Astana, Kazakhstan, 2023

PRESENTATION: Considerations of using A/R/Tography in the DP VA Classroom

I joined a global group of IB educators to discuss the successes in fostering an interest and appreciation for the art process by using an A/R/Tography in my IB DP classroom.
I was grateful the educators feedback and discussions on strategy to further support teachers unpacking the IB DP VA curriculum.
Presented online via zoom, May 2023

EMERGENCE 2022 ART EDUCATION CONFEReNCE, OTTAWA, CANADA

Presentations:
Canadian ARt Teacher: WHO ARE WE?
THE ENDURING GARDEN

I was fortunate to present alongside my Canadian Art Teacher co-editor on our journal's direction; presenting a snap shot of our history, our present and inquiring into our future. Continuing on from our Ace Zagreb presentation, I again joined with my mentor Dr. Lorrie Blair and Ph.D. colleague Jean to consider collage as a medium for connection and building community through our Enduring Garden presentation.
Both presented at Emergence Art Education Conference, Ottawa, Ontario, October 2022

EMERGENCE 2022 Graduate STudent Symposium

PRESENTATION: AN EXPLORATION OF QUALITY IN VISUAL ART

I was honoured to present my current research exploring quality in VA teaching focusing on the IB DP VA program specifically in international schools.
Presented at the Emergence Art Education Conference; Graduate Student Symposium, October 2022

ACE ZAGREB 2022 ART education Conference, CROATIA

PRESENTATIONS:
THROWING ROSES INTO THE ABYSS
'ZOOMING': BOTH SIDES OF THE SCREEN

REFLECTIONS ON EMERGENCY AND REMOTE TEACHING AND LEARNING DURING COVID 19 PANDEMIC

I was fortunate to present our reflections and observations in our Presentation 'Throwing Roses on the Abyss' with my mentor Dr. Lorrie Blair as well as our presentation 'Zooming on both sides of the screen' with my fellow Ph.D. colleagues Nancy Long and David LeRue

Both Presented at the ACE ZAGREB Art Education Conference in Croatia, August 2022

3MT PRESENTATION: UPGRADING VISUAL ARTS

The Three-Minute Thesis (3MT) competition challenges students to present their research to a panel of judges and a general audience in three minutes or less. The competition fosters the sharing of knowledge and academic engagement from across the Concordia community. I was fortunate to be able to present my research directions alongside some very interesting and ground-breaking research at Concordia's 4th space.
March 2022, 4th Space, Concordia University

TEACHER SUPPORT: IB DP VA TEACHER SHARE OUT

During the fall of 2021, when most of us were still teaching and learning online, I answered the call from IB DP VA teachers for support and time to discuss strategies within their classrooms. I created and hosted 2 workshops over zoom providing IB DP Art teachers to discuss DP components and teaching strategies.
*Video is posted with permission of participants.
October 2021, Zoom Online via Event Brite

ENCOUNTERS 2021 Art education Conference

PRESENTATION: RE-VISITING OUR RELATIONSHIP TO PLASTIC

A Graduate Student Peer-Led Slow Design Project

I developed this project with fellow Concordia Ph.D. Student Nancy Long during 2021 and shared it with Art Education Graduate Classes. We presented our project at CSEA/SCEA Conference in 2021
November, 2021, CSEA/SCEA

BECOMING DANS MONTREAL: WALKING WITH PUBLIC ART

I explore the practice of a-r-tography through a series of semi-repetitive transact walks through Centre-Ville, Montreal, Canada with an evaluative view of public art. Using trans-disciplinary ethnography strategies such as walking with video, mental maps and mytho-geography, this article seeks to share an intimate understanding of arts-based research as enacted, living inquiry through theoretical pinnings of repetition and the six renderings: contiguity, living inquiry, openings, metaphor/metonymy, reverberations, and excess.
December 2021, Concordia University

ARWAE 2020 ASIA REGIONAL WORKSHOP FOR ART EDUCATORS

PRESENTATION: UNPACKING ASSESSMENT CRITERIA IN VISUAL ARTS

I organized and developed this workshop alongside 3 current IB DP VA examiners to discuss each of the 3 VA components and explain how they are examined. The aim was to assist attendees to develop strategies for success in their own classes. This workshop relates to the ‘practice as pedagogy’ strand twofold. Firstly, it helps teachers understand the requirements of the IB DP VA pedagogy more fully and secondly, it may encourage teachers to consider examining to supplement their own practice while developing strategies and understanding for the course.
Presenters:
Wendy Tai, Li Po Chun United World College of HK, IB PP/EE Examiner
Robin Muller, HK Academy, IB PP/CS Examiner
Jacques Thomass, YCIS HK, IB Exhibition Principal Examiner
Amy Atkinson, Shekou International, IB CS/EE Examiner
October, 2020, Asia Regional Workshops for Art Educators ARWAE

EARCOS 2019 TEachers CONFERENCE, BANGKOK

PRESENTATION: THE GREAT ART THROW DOWN

The Great Art Throwdown, is a challenge I do with my art class to promote creativity, decision making and critical thought. It is heavily inspired by the great art challenge shows such as British Bake Off and Great Pottery Throwdown. I frame it into two classes: with the first presenting the idea and art making and then the second with open (visible) judging. It takes me out of the ‘instructor’ and 'assessor' position which allows students to develop creativity and critical thought by problem solving themselves. It helps them to make quick decisions and to develop creative confidence. And with the visible 'judging', they can better understand the subjectivity.
March 2019, EARCOS Teaching Conference, ISB

EARCOS 2015 TEACHERS CONFERENCE, KOTA KINABALU

PRESENTATION: CREATING MINDFULNESS: ENHANCING CLASSROOM DESIGN

I feel Feng Shui can be very relevant to classroom design at international schools in the EARCOS region as many of our students are sensitive to this sense of space. It is innate within many Asiatic cultures and so students can feel at ease or comfortable in a space that harmonizes with the feng shui of the area and so I find it can help students feel comfortable – which leads to more engagement, success and confidence.
I have been studying Feng Shui for awhile. Since 2002 to be precise (Ouch! That is a long time). I first studied with Feng Shui Master Joseph Yu. I use it all the time automatically, whenever I enter a space – because to me it feels ‘better’ after I do. Things just flow easier. I was excited when I asked by Heather Naro at ISE to develop a workshop for ISE teachers and then to present at EARCOS in Kota Kinabalu.

March 2015, EARCOS Teaching Conference, Kota Kinabalu

PPPPTK 2012, TEACHER TRAINING INSTITUTE, YOGYAKARTA, INDONESIA

WORKSHOPS: CLASSROOM management, Assessment, Mindfulness

I was honoured to be selected as a member of a 4 Teacher envoy from Singapore to PPPPTK in Yogyakarta to introduce Indonesian English teachers innovative techniques and education concepts dealing with IT, Classroom Management and Assessment. I instructed Indonesian Creative teachers on Classroom Management with a focus on ‘How to Inspire and Motivate Students’ leading sessions in: Classroom Design, Building Positive Relationships, Creating A Supportive Environment, Engaging Passion
July 2012, PPPPTK SENI DAN BUDAYA Teacher Training Institute, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

Masters of Education in International School Leadership

EARCOS Triannual Journal, Spring 2015

2016 Cohort, EARCO's Leadership Conference, Bangkok

I undertook my Masters of Arts in Education with University of San Francisco and Washington State University. The International Leadership Progam (ISLP) is unique in that it combines a Masters program with a Washington State Principal Certification specifically designed for teachers in International Schools within the EARCOS regions. The course is hybrid on-line and in class sessions on site at both EARCOS Leadership and Teacher conventions.
It was an amazing opportunity, not only to learn leadership skills and knowledge, but to meet and network with like minded international educators within the EARCOS region. Topics of study ranged from Educational Leadership, Education Law, Application Development, Finance, Data Based Decision Making, and Human Resource Management as well as satisfy requirements of my Leadership Internship. My research focus as Middle Leadership.