Adele Whittaker – Tūrangawaewae: Exploring Identity and Sense of Place Through Interdisciplinary Arts
This presentation delves into Tūrangawaewae: A Sense of Place, an interdisciplinary Year 11 unit that brings together Visual Arts, Dance, Drama, and Music to explore identity and belonging. The concept of Tūrangawaewae—a Māori term signifying “a place to stand”—serves as the thematic core of the unit, encouraging students to reflect on the connections between personal history, culture, and their environment. Through creative inquiry, students produce a resolved artistic piece that integrates their reflections on place, identity, and belonging.
The unit emphasises higher-order thinking skills, challenging students not only to create but also to critically engage with the artistic process and their cultural contexts. By incorporating conventions from various Visual Arts disciplines, students learn to apply diverse techniques and approaches, enabling them to experiment with different mediums and methods. This fosters a deeper engagement with creative problem-solving and critical thinking, allowing them to reflect on their own artistic process while gaining new insights from the work of their peers.
The collaborative process culminates in an interdisciplinary exhibition where students present their resolved pieces—whether visual artworks, performances, or musical compositions—alongside their reflections on the creative journey.
This presentation will share the pedagogical approach behind the unit, highlight the role of interdisciplinary collaboration across the arts, and showcase how fostering higher-order thinking skills through this unit prepares students for engaging with complex ideas in both their creative and personal development.
Biography
Adele Whittaker and Patrick Carrigan are experienced educators at Glendowie College, with a strong focus on interdisciplinary and collaborative approaches to arts education. Adele specialises in Art Design and Photography, while Patrick focuses on Painting and Art History. Together, they have led numerous initiatives that integrate cultural narratives and artistic practices, deepening students’ engagement with their identity, environment, and creative expression.