BadgeLAB Leeds: Spotlight on Buzz Creative Arts at First Floor
BadgeLAB Leeds is a partnership amongst ArtForms Leeds, Sheffield Hallam University and DigitalMe. The project works with local arts organisations and arts practitioners to help them create badges that recognise arts-based learning. BadgeLAB Leeds offers learning events for schools, learning programmes and informal audiences.
Buzz, one of our participating arts programmes, is for young people aged 14 to 25 who have a learning disability. It’s offered by West Yorkshire Playhouse at First Floor, their designated creative space for young people. The programme consists of a two day a week course as well as weekend and school holiday workshops in drama, music, visual arts and movement. All of these activities can help the participant or learner work towards Arts Award accreditation. We are especially pleased that earning badges could well become a step or series of steps toward earning this widely recognised award.
We are particularly taken with Buzz because they are using badges to recognise achievements in young people who may not be able to note their skills with traditional qualifications. Take a look at the activities involved in the Drama Buzz Badge here.
We checked in with Maria, Buzz co-ordinator, to find out how the BadgeLAB Leeds badges went down with her students. We were thrilled to receive such positive feedback from an expert in working with students with learning disabilities!
Interview with Maria, Buzz co-ordinator
1. Were you aware of Open Badges before the project began? What did you think it would be like to work with them (ie, both creating a mission and using them in teaching)?
I hadn’t heard of Open Badging and found it difficult to imagine what they would be until I had the first meeting with the rest of the experimenters and DigitalMe.
2. What particular challenges did you face and/or overcome in the process of creating your badge mission?
Just finding the time to do it, and finding the right way to approach it, explaining the concept and making it tangible to our students.
3. Do you think the badges acted as an incentive to learning in or after your teaching sessions?
Yes, our students were intrigued by the badging concept and it gave a fresh perspective to the workshop.
4. Did the badges elicit any particular reactions from learners (eg, interest, excitement, curiosity)?
Our Buzz students were interested because its a digital product and they are all interested in tablets and what they can do with them. They are all interested in gaining more skills (and showing off those skills).>
5. Do you know of any learners who went on to earn more badges after your session?
I know our students are interested in collecting and doing more badges. We are going to try and make that happen in the Spring term 2015 by starting with the thumb pot badge!
Interview with Bee
Bee is an artist and support worker on Buzz who attended our Badge Design Day back in September.
