Overview

Arts-Based Learning for Business (ABLB) is a research project conducted by director and producer Kathryn Evans in conjunction with Paul Nichols, a member of the faculty at the Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Through a set of online video modules, instructors have the opportunity to inject arts-based learning into their curriculum.

Students view the videos and then practice the exercises that are demonstrated. The art-based curriculum has been shown to enhance innovation and creativity in all academic areas.

Episodes

To request video links, please email ablb@utdallas.edu, with your name, email, and institution.

  • Listening: The Name Game
    This short ice-breaker exercise asks students to introduce themselves with a gesture. Students then must repeat the name and the gesture. Requires active listening and memory.

  • Listening: The Orchestrated Story
    In this module, students add to a story in sequential order, led by a team-appointed “conductor”.  Requires attentive listening and imagination.

  • Listening: Leaving the Land of No
    Students are asked to respond to the previous student using only the words “Yes, and…” and then complete the response to the question. Requires active listening, encourages positivity and eliminates the “knee-jerk” adverse reactions too common to brainstorming.

  • Finding Your Voice
    Students are asked to create a sound or musical element, using only an object close at hand. Cell phones and musical instruments are prohibited but vocal sounds are allowed.  The students then create a “musical work” using the sounds.  Options include using the sounds in sequence or simultaneously and can be repeated as the group desires. Teaches students to speak up, find their voice in a group setting and reinforces the need for all team members to have equal input in brainstorming sessions.

  • What’s Your Problem
    In pairs of students, one acts as the person with the problem and the other seeks to get to a solution.  Modeled after the “Five Whys” of the Toyota corporation, this exercise requires students to get at the root of the problem in around five questions. The problems are generated by the class and reflect real-world problems they would face in their everyday life. Requires active listening and thoughtful questions and responses.
Team

Kathryn Evans

Associate Professor of Instruction in Music
kcevans@utdallas.edu

Dr. Evans is a singer, conductor, director, producer and researcher in the arts and science. She was the Associate Dean for the Arts of the School of Arts and Humanities at The University of Texas at Dallas from 1995 to 2010.  She holds M. A. degrees in Mathematics and in Music and a Ph.D. in Art and Technology, with an emphasis on arts education in the 21st century. She is a member and the Director of Educational Initiatives in the Art-Sci Lab in the School of Arts, Humanities, and Technology.  Her other research project CDASH (Curriculum Development in Arts, Science, and Humanities) explores the current state of cross-disciplinary curriculum at the college and high school level. She is currently developing music and science curriculum at UT Dallas, including her course “Music, Science and Technology”.

    Paul Nichols

    Faculty – Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
    paul.nichols@utdallas.edu

    Paul is an accomplished innovator and business process strategist with a history of successfully applying and pioneering new technologies and techniques to solve real-world problems. His unique skills and experience have been applied in a variety of industries, from venture capital to entrepreneurism and national politics. He is a highly effective leader and team member with leadership training and practical experience in getting small, highly skilled groups of people to deliver new solutions and approaches quickly with limited resources. 

      Kathy Lingo

      Professor of Instruction in Theatre
      kathy.lingo@utdallas.edu

      Kathy has taught at the university and college level for over 35 years. She has received multiple teaching awards, such as the Victor Worsfold Award and the Rose Award, as well as been nominated for the UT Regents Outstanding Teaching Award. She has been a Director and Assistant Director of Theatre as well as a forensics coach currently assisting the UTD competitive Individual Events team. Lingo is a Visiting International Professor at the University of Verona, Verona, Italy and works closely with the Translation Center at UTD. 

        John Gooch

        Associate Professor of Rhetoric, Professional Communication, and Literature
        john.gooch@utdallas.edu

        Dr. Gooch teaches, undergraduate and graduate courses in rhetoric, professional communication, public speaking, writing for literature, writing for the World Wide Web and computer-based communication for the ATEC program. He was Director of Rhetoric and Writing (2006- 2015) and Associate Dean for Graduate Education in Arts and Humanities (2015-2021).  Dr. Gooch is actively engaging in efforts to bolster international education at UT Dallas including a faculty-led program hosted by Franklin University of Switzerland in Lugano, and with the International Studies Institute (ISI) in Florence. He is participating in teaching and research collaborations with colleagues at both Brescia University and Verona University in northern Italy. Dr. Gooch’s focuses his research in the areas of rhetoric, law, and policy.  

          Daniel Martinez-Murillo

          Videographer at the ArtSciLab
          daniel.martinez-murillo@utdallas.edu

          Daniel is an aspiring storyteller, writer, artist, and game designer. He is currently in the ATEC program at UTD, in the Games pathway. He likes to spend his time learning new skills, drawing, playing and making games, and imagining interesting worlds and stories from wherein he gathers the inspiration for my personal projects. Daniel says “Whatever I do, as long as I can express my creativity, I am happy. Life is only so long, so why not enjoy what I do?” 

            Ojal Bhatnagar

            Research Assistant at the ArtSciLab
            ojal.bhatnagar@utdallas.edu

            Ojal is an art enthusiast with the talents of a software engineer. Within the lab, she is currently working in close contact with Dr. Kathryn Evans on her projects, C-DASH and ABLB. She is currently pursuing her master’s in computer science from the University of Texas at Dallas and paints mandalas during her free time. With her eyes fixated on her goal, which is to be a Data Engineer, she is working on personal projects that would help her achieve the goal. 

              Gautam Ganesh Iyer

              Marketing Manager at the ArtSciLab
              gautam.iyer2@utdallas.edu

              Gautam is currently pursuing his Master’s in Business Analytics from the University of Texas at Dallas. Within the lab, he is working in close contact with Dr. Kathryn Evans and Dr. Roger Malina to create recognition of the ArtSciLab around the campus as well as the outside world. Gautam is always ready to talk about sports, especially soccer, cricket, and Formula 1. He aspires to be a Business Analyst and he is working on personal projects to achieve his goals. 

                UTD Students and Alumni

                In-Person Videos

                • Muhammad Ali
                • Olean Bogdashkina
                • Charlie Hopper
                • Pam Ibarra
                • Agam Jagota
                • Luke McColloch
                • William McGuiness
                • Alex McGuire
                • Alexandra Schmid
                • Adam Schreder
                • Korben Geligmann

                Online Videos

                • Erika Cruz Cruz
                • Quinlan Franke
                • Melinda Kalanzis
                • Amelia Neild
                • Daniel Underwood

                Alumni Students

                • Akshatha Gopalakrishnan (marketing)
                • Swati Anwesha (editor)
                • Sairam Venkataraman (data analytics)
                • Jake Leudecke (videographer/editor)

                Production Personnel

                Video Services Supervisor

                • Darrell Chambers

                Videographer

                • Mike Snyder
                Testimonials

                Great exercise! It was fun and different.

                I thought this would be a team building exercise with our group, but the exercise actually gave me an idea of what to expect in a scenario like this put us out of our comfort zone talking with other people in the class. This was a good ice breaking exercise.

                The exercise was well designed and had actual value compared to others I have participated in for various things.

                Contact

                For more information, email ablb@utdallas.edu.