- What are your personal experiences with WBL?
I studied Education in Universidad Metropolitana in Venezuela and my whole career was WBL. From the first semester you were placed (sometimes you could choose) in a school as a teacher’s assistant. It was wonderful because you could always see and practice in the real world what you were learning about in class.
While studying, I had experience in the public and private sectors, also in special education, rural schools, etc. It gave me tools and a comprehensive optic that only-theory would have never done.
I think that this also worked as a “wake up call” to those who started Education thinking that it was what they wanted in life but being in a classroom from day 1 lead them to realize that it was not their true vocation. I believe that this should be -the way- to learn, not only in the Creative and Cultural sector.
- Do you think the WBL should be developed into CCI in the future?
Yes. With WBL the links created between institutions, practitioners & enterprises would turn around the way in which creative and cultural learners can gradually enter a working world.
- Do you know anyone who learned an artistic activity only by practicing with an expert?
Being an educator, I strongly believe that formal education is essential in all fields. However, specially nowadays, “regular” art consumers don’t necessarily look at a CVs to buy an art piece (It is different if you are buying art for its value and need to take into account its economic worth for future business). I believe that lots of good self-taught artists do well because common buyers and admirers just “click” with their art because they relate to it or just love what they see and end up buying the piece.
Once again, this just shows how WBL is important.
- What do you think of the online platform developed by Learn2Create?
I think that the content is heterogeneous and easy to understand and use. I loved the different presentations and all the media content. I believe that the material is very appealing, and the modules are well structured.
Marianella Parra works as a facilitator in different sector. Her main areas of work are innovation, entrepreneurship, and creativity networking. In the present article, we gather some of her insights on WBL and the current situation of the creative and cultural sector.