At ArtLab, we are continuing to promote creativity and to offer learning experiences to students from across Reading. Recently, we continued with our ongoing collaboration with Wilson Primary School in Reading, UK.

A group of students facing various challenges that hindered their full participation in mainstream curriculum activities was identified. The goal was to experiment with participatory experiences that resonated with these students, inspiring them to discover and explore their potential.

Our journey began with thoughtful consultation with school stakeholders to identify the students who would benefit most from our intervention. Drawing from the success of our Mobile ArtLab approach, we designed a series of workshops tailored to the unique needs of these students. Our approach aimed to create a ‘liminal’ space, in the school’s playground, to provide a non-threatening environment for students to ‘organically’ stumble upon valuable learning opportunities.

During our visit, we presented a range of activities that spanned from modelling clay to working with ‘Little Bits’ electronic kits and constructing with Lego sets. These activities were offered as ‘carousel’ options, intentionally lacking clear starting or finishing points. This open-ended approach allowed the students to explore and discover at their own pace, without the pressure of predefined goals.

The effectiveness of this approach was evident from the start. The students, eager to explore, immediately began selecting, manipulating, and engaging with the technology and materials provided. Small acts such as passing differently coloured clay or sharing various Lego pieces naturally facilitated interaction and non-verbal communication among the students. These seemingly minor gestures quickly evolved into collaboration, conversation, and a shared desire to experiment further with the equipment.