Pow! WEA comics course a knockout!

How do you encourage young adults who are disaffected with formal education to give it another try?

Kelvin Media Productions (KMP), a Sheffield based organisation working with young people with learning and behavioural difficulties, approaches this issue by offering educational opportunities of a very different kind.

(Left) Learners engaged in a variety of course activities.

They facilitate a creative arts and media programme which gives those who have experienced problems with traditional education and finding work a chance to learn a variety of skills and gain confidence by engaging in subject areas they are interested in. The participants are also involved in identifying learning goals and developing the programme in order to meet their needs.

When the WEA approached KMP with the idea of delivering a course on drawing and writing comics, both staff and learners jumped at it. WEA tutor, Russell Wall, met with KMP's Matt Henley and a group of 16 to 19 year old learners to map out the course.

Throughout May, the group explored the history and development of comics and developed fundamental skills in sketching characters, inking and colouring, storytelling and team building. The emphasis from the outset was on hands-on, experiential learning, drawing on the range of skills and interests of the participants and supported by Russell's expertise and enthusiasm. Twelve learners completed the course and progressed onto an intermediate course in June. There they built on the skills developed in the introductory course to produce an individual 10-page comic book. Learners researched a range of comic forms and created characters and stories drawing on a variety of genres, including Western, horror, comedy, Manga, superhero and German Expressionism.

Many of the participants used digital and mixed media to enhance their work. The success of the programme is testimony to the effective partnership developed between KMP and the WEA, as well as the dedication, experience and enthusiasm of the tutor. Above all, it reflects the achievements of learners for whom experiences of mainstream education have been negative.

(Right) A creative approach to the design for course publicity was taken by WEA staff members Russell Wall and David Pittaway.

The group is keen to continue learning with the WEA and is progressing onto a film studies have enrolled on another comics course at the WEA Sheffield Learning Centre. Two learners are due to continue their education at Sheffield College in September. One participant was able to support Russell as an informal classroom assistant and is keen to work as a WEA volunteer.

Organiser Rob Hindle sees using a popular medium like comics as an example of how the WEA can work with 'hard to reach' learners, many of whom have literacy difficulties, to overcome problems of confidence and re-engage with learning. Russell is hoping to get the introductory and intermediate courses accredited, creating better opportunities for participants to progress into training and work within creative arts industries.

Meanwhile, a further introductory course is planned for the autumn - with the enthusiastic support of comic shops around Sheffield; and Russell will be taking an adapted introduction to 'comic making' into a local primary school as part of WEA parents as partners provision.

For more information on this course, contact WEA Sheffield Learning Centre on 0114 242 3609.

Further information on the work of the WEA in Yorkshire and Humber can be obtained from:

Workers' Educational Association
Yorkshire and Humber Region
6 Woodhouse Square
Leeds
LS3 1AD
Tel: 0113 245 3304
Fax: 0113 245 0883
Email: yorkshumber@wea.org.uk