Perpich News

Kate Vinson Presents at Association for Experiential Education Conference

Kate Vinson, Visual Arts Instructor

April 26, 2023

Kate Vinson, Visual Arts Instructor, recently presented a workshop at the Association of Experiential Education (AEE) Heartland Regional Conference. The workshop, titled Explore Active Thinking Strategies to Enhance Experiential Learning asked the question “How do you teach thinking skills and use these same skills to engage, assess, and hear from more of your participants?” The session focused on discovery of visual thinking and the use of active thinking techniques to increase engagement, inclusion, and foster new perspectives. The AEE Heartland Regional Conference, themed Inclusion, Community, & Challenge in the Heartland, took place April 14-16, 2023 in Monticello, Iowa.

Reflecting on the experience, Vinson said, “I enjoy presenting at AEE Heartland Regional Conference because I can actively bridge my professional teaching and learning experiences as a former Outdoor Educator to my current work as an Art Educator, illustrating the interdisciplinary connections, skills, and reflections that benefit all educators regardless of setting or content.”

The Association of Experiential Education (AEE) is a global membership community comprised of experiential educators, practitioners, inquirers, researchers, and students with the shared goal of elevating the field of Experiential Education. AEE believes learning through experience positively transforms people and our world. Learn more about AEE here. The Heartland Region includes the following states and provinces: Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan.

Kate Vinson presents the session “Explore Active Thinking Strategies to Enhance Experiential Learning”

Kate Vinson began teaching at Perpich in 2018. Kate hails from Michigan where she began a career in Outdoor Recreation, specifically Adventure Education, where she taught students of all ages in experiences from Ropes Courses, Sea Kayaking, Elderhostel, and Outdoor Education. She came to Minnesota for M.S. in Experiential Education and received her Art Education License at the same time. She has taught in a variety of Art Education settings such as: Museum Education, Adult Education, Arts in Adult Day Care Programs, and K-12 Schools. Vinson is a practicing artist with a focus on sculpture using fibers/organic materials to create contemporary forms. She has received a Jerome Foundation Project Grant through the Textile Center of Minnesota and participated in several mentor/protégé experiences with local arts organizations as ongoing artistic development.