Abstract Book of the 8th International Conference on Advanced Research in Education
Year: 2025
DOI:
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The Silent Revolution: Creating an Interdisciplinary Collaborative Learning Studio
Tracey Conroy, Dr. Geraldine Maughan
ABSTRACT:
Education has long been recognised as a cornerstone of personal This research explores an innovative educational model developed to examine how collaborative, experiential learning within the creative and performing arts can facilitate transformative learning. It explores the benefits such a dynamic learning environment offers to those undergoing this process. Funded by the Limerick & Clare Education & Training Board (LCETB), the studio offers an interdisciplinary framework that integrates creative arts with liberal arts-based inquiry. Initially designed to engage young adults who faced barriers to education, literacy, or struggled in traditional educational settings, the studio quickly revealed a national need for alternative approaches. Its inclusive environment now attracts learners from diverse backgrounds, including marginalised groups, refugees/asylum-seekers, and professionals. With participants traveling from across Ireland to join, it highlights a strong national desire for this type of education. Collaboration lies at the heart of the studio, with learners working across disciplines such as film, music, script writing, costume/set/prop design, and theatre production on cross-disciplinary projects. These large-scale creative endeavours emphasise teamwork, critical-thinking, and real-world application. By linking intellectual exploration with artistic expression, learners address societal challenges, fostering transformative personal growth and community engagement. Since its inception in 2021, the studio has grown from four modules and two participants to nine modules with over 120 participants in 2024, highlighting its scalability and impact. This model exemplifies how experiential, arts-informed, inclusive education can bridge educational disparities, foster societal change, and empower learners as agents of transformation. It offers a replicable framework for advancing education as a tool for creativity, critical thinking, and social impact.
keywords: Arts; Creative; Critical-Thinking; Experiential; Transformative