Open Call: Research grant for the development of new formats for teaching and learning in a multicultural class

The unique nature of teaching and learning at Bezalel often inspires strong emotional reactions from students, when the subject matters touch on sensitive topics such as self-exploration, identity formation, worldviews and body perceptions. In recent decades, there has been a significant increase in the religious, ethnic, socioeconomic, and gender diversity of students at Bezalel, who bring to the classroom diverse and different perceptions, positions, and beliefs. The different backgrounds of the students can serve as inspiration and enrich the learning experience, but also lead clashes between the disparate values and positions to the point of conflict.

The Center for Art and Design Teaching, the Dean of Students, and the Space for Gender Equity (Multicultural Alliance) together with Bezalel Research and Innovation Authority, are pleased to invite teams of 2-4 participants (lecturers alongside students, alumni, directors, and administrators) to submit proposals for a research and development grant for new teaching formats and tools, in response to the unique challenges presented by the multicultural classroom.

The proposals can address any need, challenge or opportunity you identify, for instance:

• Getting to know the various cultures of Bezalel students
• Creating learning environments that are suitable for students for different backgrounds
• Formulating means that facilitate political discourse that allows diverse positions
• Creating canons and narratives of diverse origins
• Non-hierarchical teaching and learning practices
• Tackling the transition between the conversation on social media and conversations in the physical space of the classroom/academy
• Addressing intergenerational gaps
• Addressing the challenges stemming from the nonformal nature of art and design teaching and learning
• Developing mechanisms for alleviating tensions and clashes around volatile issues in the classroom, without compromising the quality of learning

The proposals should present a product that can be implemented as part of the existing teaching and learning settings. Proposals of a new course that is not on the curriculum, or of formats that have already been developed and fully implemented, will not be accepted.

The selected proposals will receive professional guidance and a development budget of between 2,000-8,000 NIS, according to the submitted outline and budget. The budget could be used for paying team members who are external lecturers, teaching assistants, or students and for specialists, infrastructures, and equipment. The development of the formats will take place mostly during the second semester (February-April 2022) and the products will be presented at Bezalel in a special event.

The plan is for the products of the development process to be implemented during the 2021-2022 academic year, or alternatively, submitted for external funding for further development.

Submission guidelines:

Proposals must be submitted to the Teaching Center, Yochai Avrahami at yochaiavrahami@gmail.com, by December 30, 2021. Proposals must be up to two pages long, and include:

• Name of the proposed format
• Personal details of the applicants (at least one of which must be a lecturer):
  • Full name
  • Position at Bezalel (lecturer, managerial position, administrative staff, student, graduate)
  • Department/academic unit/occupation
  • Telephone and email
• A short text describing and analyzing the initial idea
  • Motivation for the development (need/challenge/injury /success/opportunity)
  • Initial idea for the format to be developed
  • Initial illustration (optional)
  • Target population
  • What are the potential benefits for the various parties? What is new about this format?
  • Where and when will the format be implemented
  • Is the format entirely new, or is it a format that you started developing and you would like to further improve?
  • Are you the sole proprietors of the idea, or are there other partners in its development?
  • Was the format concept already presented in the past, and if so, where?
  • Outline for a budget of up to 8000 NIS (including VAT)

The proposals will be reviewed and selected by a judging panel comprised of representatives of the members of the Multicultural Alliance together with Bezalel Research and Innovation Authority.

The criteria that will be considered in the selection of the proposals are:

• Potential value to the different parties of interest
• Feasibility of proposal’s implementation
• Diversity of formats chosen for development
• Diversity of represented department and units

For inquiries, please contact Yochai Avrahami at 054-4562987, yochaiavrahami@gmail.com

 2. Alumni of the Architecture Department won second place in the David Azerieli Architecture Student Prize

The Azrieli Award acknowledges and supports creativity, originality and architectural quality among students of architecture in Israel. Yuval Yadlin and Libat Eden, who graduated from the Architecture Department, won second place for their final project Between the Mountain and the Valley (advisors: Arch. Shmuel Groag and Arch. Ahmad Kharouf).

The project takes on the complex relationship between infrastructure, space, and people by re-imagining the purpose of the out-of-commission Israeli National Water Carrier in Beit Netofa Valley. An agricultural education center is proposed at the intersection of the remaining concrete infrastructure and an existing path. Situated between Bu’ina-Nujidat and Eilabun, the center aims to reveal the unique tradition of Beit Netofa Valley. A methodology developed by combining spatial textures and local user creates a non-hierarchical understanding of the local landscape. This is used to re-define the National Water Carrier, a derelict canal, from a disruption to an integral part of the existing biosphere system, preserving the unique tension between the mountain and the valley.

To read about the project on the prize website