On
Wednesday this week we had a meeting with a group of first year craft and
technology teacher students, two teachers from the University of Turku, and
delegates from the City of Rauma environment agency. This was the final
discussion about the Bothnian Sea project, which was planned and organized together
with Rauma City
and the teacher students on craft and technology education in the University of Turku, department of teacher education,
Rauma Unit. The project was organized around the themes “environmental education”
and “The Bothnian Sea”. The learning task for the students was to ideate,
design and manufacture products for environmental education within the students’
first introductory craft and technology courses. The materials and techniques
included woodwork, metalwork, electronics, sewing, felting and different kinds
of other textile techniques. The purpose was to combine materials and
techniques, and to ideate a product or the “family” of products for
environmental education.
As the
start on the project, Juhani Korpinen, the head of the environment agency of
the Rauma City
prepared a presentation concerning the Bothnian Sea
National Park in the Rauma
area. The students also made a sea trip
with the boats onto the Nurmes island. The purpose of this trip was to familiarize
the students with the nature of the Bothnian
Sea area, but also to
generate inspiration for the design process. The students continued to process
and manufacture their ideas in the guidance of several teachers. They
experienced the process as very challenging, because many technologies and
techniques were new for them, but many of the final products were fine and
skilfully made. An exhibition was organized around the theme in the end of the
project, where the students’ presented their products.
In the
Wednesday meeting the final synopsis about the project was made, but also the
future elaborations were made for the next summer exhibition in the national
park. The students were very motivated to continue the co-operation with the Rauma City
and the environment agency. From our point of view as the teachers, this kind
of projects will be organized also in the future. The synergy leads us
forward!
One of our teacher student speaking in the final meeting.