VIRTUAL New Schools of Thought
Abstract
Creating classroom activities that are engaging, educational, and creatively stimulating can be a challenging aspect of teaching. This study explores the implementation of zine-making as a versatile, low-cost teaching tool to foster student engagement. A zine, typically created from a single sheet of paper divided into eight sections, offers students an open-ended format to combine text, images, and illustrations in a compact, easily flippable booklet. Traditionally used for self-publishing by marginalized groups to share ideas and advocate for community issues, zines are collaborative and highly customizable, which makes them an ideal medium for creative expression in the classroom. This approach aims to enhance students’ understanding of content through an interactive, hands-on project that can be used for various outputs, such as research presentations, learning portfolios, or worksheet activities. By creating a zine, students build confidence in presenting their ideas, develop motor skills through paper manipulation, and improve their capacity for creative collaboration. Incorporating zine-making into the curriculum supports deeper engagement with course material, encourages personal expression, and cultivates essential skills for individual and group learning.
Mikki Li Shiu, a licensed interior designer in Manila, holds a Bachelor’s in Interior Design from the University of Santo Tomas (2013) and a Master’s from Florence Design Academy (2017). She is an instructor and pedagogical lead at the University of Santo Tomas’ College of Fine Arts and Design, integrating her expertise in design with a commitment to education. Her research interests include interactive play learning, student engagement, learning science, virtual learning environments, and arts & design pedagogy, showing her dedication to enhancing learning experiences within the design field.
E. Danielle Concepcion is a licensed interior designer, educator, and mother of two based in Manila. She teaches at the University of Santo Tomas College of Fine Arts and Design. Danielle holds a B.S. in Interior Design (2013) from UST and a Master’s in Interior Design from Guglielmo Marconi University (2022). Passionate about domestic spaces, she focuses on environments that foster independence in children. Danielle also develops innovative assessments that enhance students’ creativity and technical skills through diverse mediums and a strong emphasis on the design process.