Replacing sculpture stands by turntables, using oil sludge instead of clay, having flour to practice clay kneading, and taking eggs and oranges as internal molds to spiral…. Teachers of the Department of Ceramic Design of the Tsinghua Academy of Arts & Design adjust measures to circumstances, with a stress on problem-orientation and real-time interaction. While strengthening guided learning, targeted online design tutorship is conducted.
Basics of Molding
Instructor: Qiu Gengyu
Target students: Second-year undergraduates of the Department of Ceramic Design
Time: 8:00-11:30, Monday, Wednesday and Friday
Studies of Folk Ceramics
Instructor: Qiu Gengyu
Target students: Optional for all graduate students of the academy
Time: 13:30-17:00, Wednesday and Friday
In this semester, A/Prof. Qiu Gengyu offers two courses in the Department of Ceramic Design. The optional course for graduate students, "Studies of Folk Ceramics", involves a great diversity of contents. A/Prof. Qiu, focusing on knowledge teaching, guides students to know and deeply understand the contents, thus studying subjects related to folk ceramics.
A/Prof. Qiu teaching
"Basics of Molding" for undergraduates requires hands-on practice of modeling through facsimile. The course requires sculpture stands, sculpture frames, plastic models, sculpture tools and clay. However, online learning means that students cannot mold in face of physical objects.
Students practicing at home
To ensure teaching quality, A/Prof. Qiu applied with the department to purchase each student a set of equipment and materials necessary for the course, including turntables, sculpture frames, oil sludge and sculpture knives. Turntables are used to replace sculpture stands, and oil sludge is used instead of clay.
To adapt to the method of online teaching, A/Prof. Qiu divided each assignment into three stages. At each stage, students were required to take pictures of the assignment from different perspectives for the teacher to mark places that need revision. In class, students' homework was commented via screen sharing. Through such sharing and comments, students not only learned the problems in their homework but also merits of other students' work.
Speaking of his thoughts on online teaching, A/Prof. Qiu noted that the biggest challenge was that without on-site demonstration he could not help students correct their homework. Some homework has problems in the process, which cannot be resolved by verbal communication alone. Therefore, when the third assignment was given, A/Prof. Qiu did the sculpture assignment himself, and pictures were taken in the meanwhile for demonstration.
Students practicing at home
A/Prof. Qiu said that students of this class were sophomores, not familiar with contents of their specialized courses, including equipment, processes and materials. However, students all do their best to overcome various difficulties to finish their homework. Students' difficulties were all observed by A/Prof. Qiu, "I'm glad to see that you are completing this course with interest. I wish that your passion for creative work would not be dampened due to the constraints of the teaching method," noted A/Prof. Qiu in his concluding remarks.
Comprehensive Materials and Ceramic Design
Instructor: Wang Hui
Target students: Optional for all graduate students of the academy
Time: 13:30-16:30, Wednesday
"Comprehensive Materials and Ceramic Design" aims to guide students to comprehensively use different materials for the design of ceramic utensils. To effectively conduct online design coaching and ensure students' attentiveness in class, A/Prof. Wang adjusted the tempo and contents of online teaching, controlled the teaching of each sub-topic to about half an hour, and then immediately assigned the next sub-topic, thus guiding students to think step by step and deepen their understanding.
Online class
With the adjustment of the teaching plan, new classroom explorations have been started. According to the original plan, the method of scenario teaching is used to lead students to personally experience factors affecting ceramic design in different states and occasions of life. For example, while drinking tea, students can understand the historical evolution of the shapes, sizes, materials and functions of ceramic tea sets. Through tea tasting, the whole network of ceramic tea ware is connected, students are guided through personal experience to reflect on the ecology of design activities and develop their overall understanding of the design of ceramic tea set design.
Students in class
Through several discussions, A/Prof. Wang decided to turn personal experience into free explorations by way of free talks, so that students could have initiative in class. Students not only participate in class more actively but also fully develop their own interest and comprehensive abilities. While actively learning and grasping knowledge of ceramic design, they also improve their own design.
"Judging from students' homework, the purpose of the course has basically been achieved." A/Prof. Wang said that the students growing up in the information age are more receptive to the network environment. "Students speak much more actively online than offline."
Ceramic Design (1)
Instructor: Yang Fan
Target students: 2017 undergraduate students of the Department of Ceramic Design
Time: 8:00-11:30, Monday, Wednesday and Friday
Ceramic Design (1) is a specialized course for undergraduates of the Department of Ceramic Design. This course aims to supply students with a comprehensive understanding of ceramic design methods so that they can design ceramic appliances with functions and aesthetics appealing to the current lifestyle. Before vacation last semester, A/Prof. Yang organized the students for a pottery field visit at Maliandao Tea City. Through the explanation and practical experience of tea sets in the market, the students acquired a preliminary understanding of the products in the current tea set market.
Visiting the tea set market at the end of last semester
When they were on campus, students could use laboratory equipment to carry out comprehensive and systematic process practice. But now, as it is difficult to complete the practice, A/Prof. Yang focused on teaching of theories, design conceptualization, design expression, scheme perfection and other aspects, strengthened the practical training of digital molding, and improved the conversion efficiency of ceramic design from conceptualization to product.
Rain Classroom + Tencent Conference as the form of class after the start of school
Students attending class at home
In distance learning, it is convenient to invite experienced designers to participate in teaching and enrich the content of the course. From such perspectives as "ceramics and tea culture", "practice of thematic design in ceramic design", "ceramic product design and handicraft creation" and "development of international ceramic design", guests are invited to share their experiences so that the students can have a deeper understanding of the methods and significance of ceramic design.
Luo Yue, Water Cup - Hello Goodbye
He Xinyun, The Design of Vase - 1/4
Miao Yan, Coffee Set - Great Day
Yang Yinglian, Tea Set - Concord
Jiahe, Vase - Gap
Basics of Ceramic Modeling
Instructor: Yin Hang
Target students: Second-year undergraduate of the Department of Ceramic Design
Time: 8:00-12:00, Monday, Wednesday and Friday
"Basics of Ceramic Molding" is a specialized basic course for the second-year undergraduate students of the Department of Ceramic Design. It is also the first time for students to have contact with real ceramic materials, make ceramic models and understand the nature of clay. The course requires students to master basic modeling skills. Molding by throwing is a fast-wheel molding method for ceramics, which is commonly used in offline teaching. However, during online learning now, a more primitive slow-wheel molding method is selected, i.e. creating with clay strips and plates.
Preparing materials
Before the start of online lessons, A/Prof. Yin ordered clay and tools from Jingdezhen's online store and had them delivered to the students' homes. A/Prof. Yin extended the teaching of theories, laying a solid theoretical foundation for the students' subsequent practical operation. A/Prof. Yin led the students to use dough to temporarily replace clay and practice kneading clay. Some students use eggs and oranges, etc. as inner molds and have mudstrip spiraling over them. A/Prof. Yin noted, "All students are strongly motivated."
Online communication scheme
A bigger challenge is that the operation guidance across the screen becomes more difficult. "Sometimes it is not very clear. Especially when there is a problem, it is not quite good to examine across the screen," said A/Prof. Yin. In particular, when finalizing the students' creative ideas, which are described by pictures, A/Prof. Yin sketched on the manuscript pictures and then returned them to the students.
Ceramic Cloud Class
Photo of A/Prof. Yin teaching
Students' works
The course brings not only knowledge but also friendship between the teacher and the students. A/Prof. Yin noted, "Every day when I turn on my camera, I see my students in their rooms. This is different from how I feel on campus, as this seems to be more cordial. Some students will also share the scenery outside their windows."
Source: Department of Ceramic Design
Writer: Liu Jiajia
Editor: Zhao Ruohan
Graphic Designer: Feng Jiaqi
