NZTC students put art theory into practice at Block Course

Early childhood education students working towards teaching qualifications put theory into practice and their art skills to the test at a recent NZTC Block Course.

Students mimicked the styles of famous painters such as Van Gogh, Magritte, Whistler, Miró and Kandinsky with coloured chalk and black paper, intricate bead tapestries, still life pencil drawings, and colourful fabric and watercolour paints to explore different art mediums and techniques that they can share with children in fun an engaging ways.

“The elements of visual art such as shape, form, line, colour, texture and spatial concepts were explored, along with the principles of design – unity, rhythm, movement, balance, proportion, variety and emphasis,” said NZTC lecturer Marjolein Whyte, who organised the art focused Block Course.

“It was a great opportunity for students to find their own confidence in creating art so they can pass it on to the younger generation. Students developed an appreciation of art and an understanding that everyone can be an artist.”

Block Courses are a requirement of the college’s Blended Learning mode – a combination of online learning and face-to-face learning – designed to further enhance students’ understanding and practical ideas about course content and encourage in-depth inquiry and reflection on their personal learning and teaching philosophy.

Held throughout the country, Block Courses are a student favourite, giving them the opportunity to collaborate with lecturers and other students.

Attendees shared how they look forward to the social aspect of the Block Courses – talking face-to-face with online colleagues about their courses, assessments, and experiences working in early childhood education – and how children love the learnings they bring back to their centres.