Interactive Online
Learning and Teaching
is Possible
E-Clay: Learning and Teaching
Phase 2 is Complete!
The second phase of E-Clay: Learning and Teaching received a grant from the Canada Council for the Arts and started work in October 2022. Phase 2 applied the results of phase 1 about teaching and learning clay virtually where the students and teachers interact in real time. Not only did the students get to see and talk with other students, but the teacher was also able to see the student’s work and offer immediate feedback.
In phase 1, we learned that teaching ceramics virtually requires special and specific knowledge and skills. In this phase 2, a group of 8 experienced teachers worked together to develop a Best Practices Guide for Interactive Online Community Ceramic Education (e-Clay).
After developing a preliminary guide, the project explored different ways to deliver real time bi-directional instructions. Several not- for- profit studios/guilds signed on to explore these different options/business models.
Not for profit Studios or Guilds who participated administered their courses in their usual way. Classes consisted of up to 8 students, for 8 weeks and took place in the winter session, January to March 2023. Students received a $100 rebate on their class cost, when they completed evaluation/ feedback of each class experience.
Participating Studios
London Clay Art Centre
Waterloo Potters Workshop
Studio on the Hill
Kawartha Potters Guild
Kingston Potters Guild
North Bay Potters Guild
Deep River Potters Guild
Sudbury Basin Potters Guild
Teachers
Chris Snedden
Eekta Trienekens
June MacDonald
Gracia Cantoya
Shaun Kelly
Aitak Sorahitalab
Lindsay Hadcock
Jeanette Desforges-Pyoli
Guide Launch
We were thrilled to hold the launch of e-Clay: Connecting and Learning: Best Practices Guide for Teachers and Guilds/Studios to create an interactive classroom.
The pilot courses from the eight participating guilds/not-for-profit studios have been wrapped up! With this experience and the lessons gathered from these pilots, we have created a best practices guide to help both teachers and guilds/not-for-profit studios develop and teach ceramics online interactively and in real-time.
The in-person event was in partnership with Tucker's Pottery Supplies Inc.. They had generously offered to host the event at their store location at 15 West Pearce St, unit 7, Richmond Hill, Ontario.
Technology
The Digital online environment for teaching is complex and constantly evolving. Teaching ceramics is a multi-faceted process. The research found that it is possible to transfer this process onto an online platform by combining multiple technologies to form a virtual workspace for both the teachers and students.
Supporting community
and innovation.
The e-Clay Learning and Teaching Project was precipitated by the closure of community clay studios during the COVID-19 pandemic and funded by the Canada Council for the Arts.
The project explored new ways to work virtually and create person-to-person interactive experiences while working with clay. Through our research, which involved input from over 100 artists, teachers, and students, the project findings offer recommendations for online learning and teaching that also meet the need for community connections through clay.
When we presented the findings, there was enormous support for the guilds to move forward with the next phase of the project to develop online programs that support interactivity. The e-Clay committee will continue to work collaboratively with the clay community across the province, and hopefully Canada, to accomplish this goal.
Financial and operating considerations are high on the agenda as most are concerned about the viability and sustainability of their guilds and the craft and art of ceramics. The research identified a number of considerations with a “tool box” approach for developing business models that would work for different settings and circumstances.
Sustainability
“Ancient craft meets modern technology.”
— Participant (North Bay & Area Potters’ Guild)
Town Hall
The e-Clay Team brought the results of the community-based research and the technology findings together at two Town Hall virtual events. Over eighty people participated and they were either extremely supportive or saw potential for e-Clay. You can watch the live event or review the content of the PowerPoint presentation.