Visualizing Learning Student Art Competition

President Kevin J Worthen has encouraged BYU faculty and students to be involved in “inspiring learning.” To the faculty he said, “I hope we inspire our students to learn. And I hope that learning leads to inspiration. When both things happen, inspiring learning occurs, and we then know we are on the right track to achieve the core goals set forth in our mission statement.” [1]

Recognizing that student learning occurs in a variety of ways, BYU Religious Education has decided to recognize some of the outstanding artwork that students have created as part of their assigned projects in various religion classes. The result is a new student exhibit called Visualizing Learning: Student Artwork from BYU Religion Course Projects.

Each piece in this exhibit is carefully evaluated by a faculty committee and is selected for its artistic quality and for its demonstration of significant student learning—both types of “inspiring learning” mentioned by President Worthen. The Religious Education’s Administrative Council then approves each piece for display. In recognition of students’ accomplishments, judges award a grand prize of $1,000, with $700 for the first runner up, $300 to the second runner up, and $200 for all others whose artwork is selected and displayed.

Each piece of art in the exhibit appears with a short description and an artist’s statement. We encourage you to read each one thoughtfully as you enjoy the artists’ creations.

The art is displayed at the Student Symposium in the WSC and later is on display in the first-floor lobby of the Joseph Smith Building and can be viewed until the end of the year.

For more information, please contact visualizinglearning@byu.edu.

[1] Kevin J Worthen, "Inspiring Learning" (speech, University Conference, Provo, UT, August 22, 2016) BYU Speeches, https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/kevin-j-worthen_inspiring-learning/.