Innovation Showcases
Ancestry in Progress: Visual Storytelling in the Construction of one Family's Narrative
Innovation Showcase
Stafford Smith,
Ritsu Katsumata
This is a presentation of a multi-media art piece accompanied by an artist talk. The work addresses my bi-cultural heritage in which I animate and collage yellowing family photos from an old white New England family with those of a family of Japanese immigrants in Hawaii. Themes of colonialism, immigration, hope, war, poverty and wealth intersect in the fate of these two families that had no idea that they would one day in the future cross paths and result in my birth. Both would've been horrified at the idea. I take liberties with these old photos and combine people who lived in different places and times in a defiance of the laws of physics to create the mythology to which families cling. Images from sugar plantations, the jazz age, WW2, picture brides and volcanoes collide in this animated collage. The presentation is colorful, lively and thought provoking. These old photos are combined with other photos gleaned from thrift shops and garage sales, as well as my own photos to help me understand who I am in the surreal context of America. I am constructing a narrative of my ancestry that is imagined and fanciful, but it is my own. This is accompanied by an original soundtrack of music intertwining elements from both cultures.
Professional Noticing as an Innovation Showcase in Higher Education
Innovation Showcase
Asun López-Varela Azcárate
Professional Noticing stands as a pedagogical innovation that reshapes the educator’s role by enhancing their ability to observe, interpret, and respond to students’ learning processes in real time. This methodology moves beyond traditional knowledge transmission by fostering dynamic, adaptive, and evidence-based teaching. By integrating selective perception, analytical interpretation, and pedagogical decision-making, educators become active facilitators of learning, capable of recognising conceptual misunderstandings, interpreting cognitive patterns, and adjusting their strategies accordingly. This approach is particularly relevant in higher education, where diverse student backgrounds and the increasing role of technology demand personalised and responsive teaching. This study presents the concept of Professional Noticing in the context of university teaching, analysing its importance, fundamental components, and strategies for its application in Higher Education as an example of pedagogical innovation. A key example of its innovative application is the Erasmus+ PROMISE project, which integrates Professional Noticing into entrepreneurship and intra-entrepreneurship education, bridging theory with practice. By leveraging digital tools, reflective practice, and collaborative learning, this initiative enhances students’ engagement and fosters critical thinking, problem-solving, and adaptability—key competencies for the modern workforce. Moreover, Professional Noticing ensures that human intuition and pedagogical expertise remain indispensable in an era of automation and artificial intelligence. By shifting the focus from static instruction to a student-centred, observation-driven approach, it represents a paradigm shift in contemporary education, equipping educators with the skills to cultivate deeper learning, innovation, and inclusivity in their classrooms.
