‘Bengal Teachers at AKG’ event connects students and community

Forty-two first-year elementary education majors enrolled in EDU 201: Introduction to Education, visited the Buffalo AKG Art Museum on Friday, October 24, for "Bengal Teachers at AKG," a community-building experience designed to inspire creative teaching practices and connect students to local cultural assets.

The event-coordinated by Kathleen Gramza, lecturer in Buffalo State's Elementary Education, Literacy, and Educational Leadership Department-encouraged students to explore ways to integrate art into their future classrooms. Gramza worked closely with Lindsay Kranz, manager of AKG School and Tour Programs, who offered a presentation called "Art'scool."

"Lindsey did a wonderful presentation on all of the AKG resources available to teachers," Gramza said. "The students were also led by "gallery teachers" in engaging activities. About one-third of the students opted to get a special admission tag to stay and check out other parts of the museum."

"The event showed us what a school field trip might look like, and we even got the chance to do a hands on, interactive piece," said Buffalo State graduate assistant Hailee Cipollina. "As teachers, we always want our students to be engaged, and the amazing volunteers and facilitators at the AKG did a phenomenal job of modeling this for our teacher candidates at our visit."

The event not only offered an engaging introduction to the role of art in elementary education but also facilitated community-building among first-year elementary education majors and offered exposure to the museum. About one-third of attendees opted to take advantage of a special admission tag to stay and explore other parts of the museum following the event's conclusion.

"The AKG is literally across the street from our campus," said Julie Henry, professor and chair of the Elementary Education, Literacy, and Educational Leadership Department. "We want our elementary education majors to think about how to connect their students with the arts and how to connect themselves with community learning spaces. We will be proud to say that elementary education majors from Buffalo State have first-hand experience in how to use the museum to enhance their work with children."

Gramza added, "Students walked away from AKG with a greater appreciation for art, our community, and each other."

Photos by Jesse Steffan-Colucci, Buffalo State photographer.