More than 150 educators reflected on the needs of children in their care through a collaborative art project featured at the recent UnConference: Ordinary Moments, Meaningful Connections.
The interactive hands-on activity invited educators to share their experiences and consider the common threads that connect their work across different settings and communities.
The activity took place in two parts. First, participants responded to the prompt, “What do the children in my care need from me?” by writing their thoughts on a cutout face. They then decorated the face and added it to an art wall made up of strings.
While attendees took part in their morning sessions at the event, Trying Together staff connected the participants’ answers using yarn that matched the colors of the Simple Interactions tool dimensions – connection, reciprocity, inclusion, and opportunity to grow.
Later in the day, participants were asked to revisit the reflections and answer a second prompt: “What is a new strategy that you learned today?” They were encouraged to think about the four dimensions and add their circle to the colored thread that matched the dimension.
“As the artwork grew, it became a visual representation of the collective wisdom, creativity, and commitment within the group,” said Karian Wise, Trying Together’s interactions design strategist. “Although educators may work in different environments and bring unique perspectives to their roles, the activity highlighted the values and aspirations that unite them: By making space for individual voices within a shared creation, the activity demonstrated both the diversity of educational experiences and the common purpose that guides the participants’ work. The resulting artwork served as a reminder that the educators can all learn from one another, strengthen their practice through collaboration, and create more meaningful opportunities for every child through simple, everyday interactions.”
To learn more about UnConference: Ordinary Moments, Meaningful Connections, read the coverage of the event.
