What if art could change the way you learn and experience life?

Learning through experience requires us to move from a purely intellectual approach to a more holistic engagement. I try to bring about this change by opening each of my leadership courses with a form of art – a poem, a piece of music, or a visual work. It is a way to help my students, many of whom are management or law students, executives or leaders in their field, step out of their typical “brain-bound” mindset and into a space where they can express their thoughts, feelings and Allowing values ​​to guide your learning. For many it is an uncomfortable and unfamiliar approach, but in my opinion it is exactly what opens their minds and hearts to taking an unconventional path to growth.

Dr. Liliana Milkova and I share a passion for this type of experiential learning. Liliana, Nolan Curator of Education at the Yale University Art Gallery, uses art to promote reflective, perspective-changing experiences and encourage people to slow down and engage deeply with what they see and feel. Drawing on her childhood in Bulgaria and her extensive work in art education, she shares how object-based learning can change the way we think and connect with others.

I encourage you to experience this episode by watching and not just listening. Join us as we discover how art can transform the way we think, learn, connect and grow.

Watch this episode on YouTube.

Key topics

02:19 Learning from Cultural Heritage – Growing up in Bulgaria surrounded by historical objects fostered Liliana’s deep connection to experiential learning and taught her to engage with the world through observation, curiosity and reflection.

09:38 Teaching through art – “Teaching through Art” instead of “teaching”. around “Art” catalyzes deeper, shared learning experiences and makes abstract concepts more tangible through observation and personal interpretation.

14:37 Object-Based Learning – Through careful observation and multisensory experiences, learners develop critical thinking skills and build deeper connections with content.

6:00 p.m. Collaborative Learning and Perspective Taking – Exercises such as “back-to-back drawing” improve communication and empathy by describing and interpreting objects from different angles.

32:39 Learning how to learn – Developing individual strategies for processing information and engaging with experiences helps build confidence and adapt to new situations by adopting different ways of thinking.

42:43 Reflect and Slow Down – Slow down to fully engage with an object and allow time for deeper reflection. Creating space for shared insights and dialogue improves the learning experience.

resources