By: Hanzhang Zhao & Sophia Feng
Imagine an online space designed just for Harvard art lovers, an online community where you can dive into the world of the various events organized by the Harvard Art Museum, share thoughts with fellow enthusiasts, and get inspired. Recognizing the need for a more interactive and collaborative platform that can help art lovers all across Harvard to find a constant community online, we decided to design an app that fosters online learning communities for on-site art events at the Harvard Art Museum. This app aims to create a dynamic and inclusive space where students can engage in meaningful discussions, share insights, and deepen their understanding of art in the context of both online and on-site experiences.
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Discussion Forum- facilitating learning for Harvard Art Museum Events
For each on-site event at Harvard, there will be a tailored space not only for students to learn the details about it, but also to find other participants who are also interested in visiting, and together, they can start their learning before participating in the event.
Rooted in the works of Vygotsky, social constructivism posits that learning is a social process where individuals actively construct knowledge through interactions with others. A forum space is built within each event information, facilitates online discussions, and aligns with this theory by providing a platform for learners to engage in collaborative meaning-making. We also draw on connectivism learning theory, where knowledge is generated through collective exploration and investigation of different aspects of an event. We aim to leverage the connectivity of this online platform to create a network of Harvard art lovers, allowing them to share insights and experiences beyond the confines of physical space. Furthermore, each discussion forum will begin with prompts proposed by the forum facilitator. According to Thomas & Thorpe (2019), asynchronous discussions can lead to better learning experiences. In particular, facilitator-led discussions can promote deeper reflection and increase a sense of participation among students who are interested in joining the event experience. Facilitators provide scaffolding by posting guided thinking questions to promote active thinking in students, which can help their active thinking and eventually, aim at more effective learning when they are actually on site. After the events are finished, forum facilitators will also post reflection questions, aiming at engaging students in discussions and sharing their reflections.
Moments – socializing function for Harvard Art Lovers to share their experiences, whenever!
We also decided to add a social function to further connect Harvard art lovers. You can connect with your friends within the app and you will be able to see each other’s posts, whether it is about a museum visit, an art piece, or an arts learning experience. We believe that this can help foster a sense of “closer” community and increased psychological safety among users of the app. This may then in turn increase their willingness to engage in online forum discussions. Users can also choose to stay anonymous should they wish to do so.
This community is more than just a platform; it’s a place to connect. Discuss art, share reflections, and learn from peers. Learning is a social experience, and the vibrant exchange of ideas enhances the journey for everyone involved!
Looking ahead, we aim to make the platform a go-to spot for upcoming museum events. It’s not just about attending – it’s about preparing, discussing, and reflecting on these experiences. We’re excited to build this community together – a space that’s user-centric, collaborative, and creatively expressive for Harvard art lovers.
