1. Course/Activity Introduction The course focused on Wanhua District's unique street scenes and architecture. We selected local landmarks rich in history and culture, such as Longshan Temple, Bopiliao, Ximending, Taipei Fish Market, and Huaxi Street Night Market, as the creative themes. During the course, students used reference images to recall memories of these historic sites and combined needle pen outlines with light watercolor washes to create their own works. The aim was to let students immerse themselves in capturing the outlines of historical buildings while using linear drawing and watercolor washes to evoke a wonderful creative experience. 2. Overall Reflection and Suggestions First, I would like to thank the instructors for giving me the opportunity to participate in this project. It was a chance to interact and teach young adults and elderly students. When discussing the course theme of Wanhua’s characteristics and watercolor painting, I thought about well-known landmarks and local cuisine. I also discussed with the team the idea of sketching with needle pens and watercolor as a way to record travel experiences, which became the main direction of the course. Although I had some teaching experience, I had never taught this specific combination of needle pens and watercolor for landscape painting. I was quite nervous initially, unsure if I could provide the students with a great learning experience. Choosing reference images was also more difficult than anticipated, as not every image suited beginners. I realized that the connection students felt to the theme and reference material greatly influenced their mood and the outcome of their artwork. Therefore, I spent a lot of time working with the team to filter reference images, categorizing them into five difficulty levels so students could select based on their preferences and desired challenge level. Looking back, it’s a bit unfortunate that, due to time constraints, we couldn't take students to the actual locations for plein air drawing. However, when I saw the students' works displayed at the exhibition, each piece captured a different scene from the Wanhua District. The addition of black paper framing made the works feel like frames from a film reel, showcasing Wanhua’s charm and sparking more imagination. Because the works were created with the students' heartfelt effort and were displayed together, it felt like we shared a collective memory of Wanhua, creating an opportunity for conversation, healing, and the possibility of shared memories. In the three days of class (which included the class, exhibition setup, and opening reception), I had the pleasure of meeting many people with different life stories. Some students joined with family members, like a mother-daughter duo, while others attended solo. The mother-daughter pairs reflected on the concept of "companionship." During class, the time spent together was just as important as the learning itself. I noticed the subtle yet significant charm of the people around me—things that we often overlook in daily life. Among the solo participants, some were quiet, while others were very meticulous about their creations. They asked questions when needed and engaged in discussions, which allowed me to constantly reflect on how to guide them more appropriately. It became a thoughtful process of adjusting my tone, speech style, and teaching methods to ensure the students could successfully finish their work. In conclusion, this experience has deepened my understanding of teaching. It made me realize that, when designing courses that allow people to immerse themselves in creative activities, there are endless possibilities for development. For adult students, around three hours of creative time is perfect—it provides enough energy to focus while also giving ample time to immerse themselves in the process. I look forward to participating in more projects in the future and exploring more ways to combine art with other core activities for more art-related support.

Implemented by Center for Teaching and Learning Development
Date: 2024/07/10