JLN Year 2:

My Engaged Learning Experience

Jaguar Leadership Network

Artifact: Sculpture class project I made in the tool room across from wood shop. Picture taken in Eskenazi Fine Arts main gallery.

Purpose

My Engaged learning Experience was done at the Eskenazi Fine Arts Center. I am a shop monitor and looked over the wood and metal shop in the building. I helped students with understanding machines. And helping them with projects. I would look around the shop to see if anyone needed help. Or students would come up to me. They would either ask for my opinion on how to use a machine or ask where certain tools were. I clean the floors and machines and also do close. The reason I chose this experience was because I liked having the option to learn and help people in a space that relates to my major and career goals. Also since I have keys to the building I’m able to work on projects when I need to. Which is a huge plus since I am a Sculpture and Painting major. On the left is a Sculpture project I worked on while at work during my freetime

Prior Experience

Connections that i see within my coursework, out of classroom experience, and life experiences with my engaged learning experience. Is that my life sort of revolves around art. I am a Sculpture and Painting major, which means I have a few hours long studio classes. Then my Engaged Learning Experience is working at the sculpture shop at Eskenazi Fine Arts Center (EFAC). They both tie in together. Outside of school I make my own jewelry and at times ill have people who ask how it's made. They will ask what the steps for making it were and I'm always more than happy to explain. In that way it connects my job to my life. Outside of class and school I'm helping or teaching in a way. Thats just what I do as a work study. Then the way they completely connect is that I participate in my school's markets and sell jewelry/art I make at home and work during free time. Which helps with my communication skills the same ways my work study job does

Picture of part of my table setup during Winter Market in Eskenazi Hall.

Community Connections

Working at Eskenazi Fine Arts Center is great. I get to meet so many students and make new friends. The wood shops where i mostly helped people. I have met people from different communities and cultures. I've also met people with different religious beliefs and people with different backgrounds. Since my engaged learning experience requires talking to my peers. I got really close with my coworkers and the students who stay after to work on projects. I got to learn about others' views on different topics. Also my job may be to help others but i receive help too. Im one of the younger work study's so i don't have every answer. So I too am learning while working.

Picture of the Wood Shop in Eskenazi Fine Arts Center.

Me in safety gear in the Metal shop in Eskenazi Fine Arts Center

New Skills/Lessons

One experience that I learned from Working at EFAC was when a student's artwork broke. He was building a deer head out of cardboard and plaster, and it got knocked over when it wasn't completely dried when it fell. So, we had to try, and problem solve. So, me and his teacher thought it'd be a good idea to use canvas or fabric almost as a band aid to cover the cracks and cover with more plaster. I went looking around the building and asked people for canvas. I found a person who had some. So, he was able to continue with his project and even put the artwork in an art show. He was able to overcome an obstacle and didn't get frustrated. Problem solving is something that I'll be often doing in the future. One of my most recent skills I learned while working at EFAC is how to use the Metal shop machines. I was constantly asking the other work studies for help and learned a lot. I learned how to weld and cut metal. I think in the future ill try to make another metal project

Impact

I think having this as a work study really gave me an idea of what it'd be like to teach. I find it really cool when someone asks me how something works, and I know. Makes me feel like I'm helpful. It's a good feeling. Especially when I just learned, and I remember. It also got me out of my comfort zone which I appreciate. It was definitely a great learning experience. If I had to choose again, I would choose the same job because I'm surrounded by great people. Have also made friendships with coworkers and students.

Career Connections

What I will do now is do more research on what I can do with my major. Also more research on community teaching. Im interested in either working at camps or at a center/museums? Have been thinking about going to grad school for Art Education. This goes well with my career goals of doing freelance and teaching. I think teaching could be a good big step for me. Especially since my communication skills have gotten better and have had practice. Also have gotten a small feel of how it could be. Think it could be interesting

Summary

Overall, it's a good experience. I would recommend it to my peers or even other JLN students that are art majors. There are benefits for working at (EFAC). in a way it's like getting paid to make art. You help your peers which creates better communication skills. Access to tools and machines. Also gain new skills which is always a plus.

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