Although communication has always been important to Rebekah, it wasn’t until she participated in the Faculty of Arts’ new Arts First program that she truly began to appreciate the meaning of the word.
“At the beginning of the seminar, our prof spent a whole class asking us to define how communication works. We all had one idea in mind, but were presented with a completely different perspective that no one had really thought about before. It definitely gave me a new outlook that I was able to apply to my other courses.”
Arts First is made up of two seminars, ARTS 130 (Inquiry and Communication) and ARTS 140 (Information and Analysis) with all Arts students taking one seminar in each term of their first year. From seating that enables collaboration, to ongoing opportunities to test ideas and concepts using methods not found in a traditional university classroom, Arts First feels different from the moment students walk through the door. With just 20 to 25 students per class, the topics reflect the pressing research and intellectual issues currently examined within Arts disciplines.
Beyond the classroom: Students from an Arts 140 section head to the REEP House for Sustainable Living for an experiential learning opportunity.
Rebekah, an Arts and Business student with a Fine Arts major and Digital Arts Communication minor, took ‘How to Talk to Strangers, Enemies, and Friends’ for Arts 130 under Professor Robert Danisch. The experience challenged her thought process and ideas, enabling her to develop a communication skill set she applied to her other courses to improve her grades and form new opinions.
“I got the sense, that from the beginning to the end, students got used to being heard.”
Professor Heather Smyth, director of the Arts First program, recognizes a tangible difference in students as they move through the program, which she attributes to increased opportunities for them to develop agency. Students quickly get used to participating in meaningful in-class discussions, while learning that they can understand and implement the steps needed to improve their communication skills, transforming them into vocal advocates for their own work.
“In the beginning, I told my prof I had never been a strong writer and I was going to need help. Professor Danisch said oh don’t worry – you’ll get it. And I got it!”
Students collaborate and share their ideas and unique perspectives through an immersive activity, simulating a regional climate action planning consultation.
Arianna, an Arts and Business Co-op student majoring in Speech Communication, credits Arts First for helping her to be more comfortable talking to, and in front of, her classmates, which then translated into more authentic relationships outside of class, including participating in a course Facebook group and discovering mutual interests with new friends.
“If students start to see themselves as responsible participants and agents in the world, when they go into a job they’ll be able to figure out what they can contribute to intellectual conversations and be in a different position professionally from the get go.”
Professor Danisch feels strongly that the important part of education is not about the passing down of a body of knowledge from instructor to student, but about engaging students in activities instead of talking at them in lectures. For him, the goal of the program is to position students for success by changing their self-perception, so they believe in themselves and know that their voice matters – in the university community and beyond.
This story was originally published on Arts Student Stories.
