Education Projects
- Aesthetic-experimental-course
Snapshot Montage
The introduction of aesthetic experimental courses began with Snapshot Montage, initially designed for freshman architecture majors at Tunghai University. This exercise involved students searching for common objects or elements in the campus environment, collecting a series of images, and arranging them in photo grids. Besides developing their photo composition skills, students were required to observe environmental details and present their personal interpretations. To adapt the course for younger students, we transformed the concept into a “puzzle,” making the idea of “collage” more familiar and engaging for children.
In early 2020, we conducted experiments and promoted the course in two elementary schools in Taitung City. Initially, we guided the students by asking questions like “Look, what is this?” to encourage them to observe visual elements such as colors, lines, and shapes in their environment, rather than merely identifying objects by name. Using digital devices, specifically tablets, the students captured their own discoveries. Later, in the classroom, they used an image collage application to edit the photos they had taken, creating multiple themed collages. Finally, they uploaded and shared their creations with their classmates.
The advancement of digital tools and sharing services has significantly simplified the process of image editing. As students instinctively manipulated images to create snapshot montages, they also unconsciously engaged in visual recognition, interpretive operations, and narrative expression. This course expanded the learning experience beyond the classroom to the campus environment and further to the digital platform. It not only facilitated students’ observation and collection of materials from their local surroundings, deepening their understanding of their environment, but also encouraged the formation of perceptions related to the environment, arts and design, life, and cultural legacies.
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- Aesthetic-intelligence-reading-program
The Anne Times
The Anne Times is a newspaper designed especially for kids and teenagers, with 4 volumes and 23 issues published so far. It covers topics like astronomy, science, humanities, design thinking, and gender equality, aiming to represent diverse perspectives. This newspaper serves as an authentic teaching material for elementary, middle, and high school teachers to promote newspaper reading in class. Since its launch in 2020, The Anne Times has received numerous awards both locally and internationally, including the 2020 Good Design Award of Japan, the Golden Pin Design Award of Taiwan, the Future Education Taiwan 100 Award, and the DFA Design for Asia Awards. Combining excellent illustrations and layout design, The Anne Times seamlessly integrates aesthetic concepts such as colors, textures, proportions, composition, construction, and structure into its visual content. It covers international news, contemporary issues, knowledge, and stories, making it a wonderful outcome of interdisciplinary cooperation. By turning the pages, touching the texture of the paper, and reading the printed words and pictures, children are stimulated to explore both the intellectual and aesthetic aspects of knowledge, expanding their international horizons. The Anne Times aims to introduce a novel educational approach for future generations. It can be used as a teaching aid for primary and secondary school teachers, providing integrated, authentic materials for various classes like language, science, and social studies, and motivating students’ interests. Furthermore, it serves as a medium to connect different fields of learning, encouraging the development of interdisciplinary courses that explore various subjects. Additionally, the newspaper collaborates with cultural institutions to expand its readership, encouraging parents and children to read together and enjoy interactive educational games and hands-on activities.
