paintshootponder

Mary Rudkin, artist and academic lecturer in Education, hosts Ragtime Exhibition. RAGTIME (the recycling art of making rug rugs and wall hangings out of discarded bits of fabric) is an exciting exhibition taking place at the Octagon Theatre, Bolton for the duration of the musical ‘Hired Man’, 10 June – 3 July.

Devised in partnership between The University of Bolton and Forrest Bank Prison, this is a part-time programme to be undertaken over three years. It is a new and innovative look at the way we serve people who have been described as “offenders”. The course is for people who work in prisons, approved premises, forensic units, rehabilitation centres, police services and probation services.

The programme also welcomes people who have themselves been described as “offenders” to join the course and take a critical look at the way we design, manage and deliver such services. For more information email Joe Whittaker at jw6@bolton.ac.uk

Jillian Watmough graduated from the BA (Hons) Textile Surface Design in 2008 and subsequently the PGDE programme at the University of Bolton in July 2009. Throughout her work based experience on the PGDE she developed an art and design programme to facilitate workshops with young people who were excluded from school. This included tile painting, t-shirt making, scratch art, gallery visits and literacy and numeracy support at Bolton Youth Challenge. Jillian said that as well as curriculum development she also developed positive communication skills inherent in teaching and learning, to include giving good advice, behaviour management, guidance and support and the use of various teaching and learning strategies to improve learners’ education.

Jillian has since gained paid employment at Youth Challenge and feels that she has achieved self development, whilst gaining in confidence that hopefully will continue to grow and develop throughout her teaching career.

“From this experience my teaching role now gives me opportunities to involve ways of including diversity and inclusion into my art and design lessons which I prepare for independently, for example I am able to interweave various strategies learnt on the PGDE to meet the needs of specific learners. Also throughout my teaching practice I have developed knowledge and skills in writing schemes of work and lesson plans, allowing me to prepare and deliver lessons effectively, enabling students to successfully learn new skills in Art and Design. I ensure my lesson plans include differentiation, clear structure, inclusion and diversity because this is the key to planning a positive lesson effectively.”

As well as Bolton Youth Challenge, Jillian has also volunteered at Bolton Jubilee Centre where she facilitated arts workshops with adults with learning difficulties, thus gaining a wide experience to community based teaching and learning practices. She has recently been asked to attend an awards night for volunteers working in the community at Victoria Hall.