Integrating Collaborative Learning into Youth Art Education: Preservation and Innovation of Guangzhou’s Polo Birth Culture

The Cantonese Porcelain technique, as the essence of Chinese ceramic art, not only showcases the exquisite skills of traditional Chinese craftsmanship, but also symbolizes the openness and cultural integration of Guangzhou. However, due to changes in usage habits, the heritage of Cantonese Porcelain skills is facing the risk of decline. Similarly, the Polo Birth Culture festival, a symbol of local cultural heritage and community unity, is under threat of being forgotten, especially as the use of Cantonese by the younger generation declines. In the context of globalization and social change, the transmission and popularization of traditional intangible cultural heritage such as Guangzhou's is particularly critical. The purpose of this study is to explore the application of collaborative learning in youth art education, and apply collaborative learning in it to promote the inheritance of Polo Birth Culture culture with the medium of Cantonese Porcelain, a folk skill. Through collaborative learning, we create an educational environment that promotes interaction, participation and in-depth understanding of culture. This study conducted in-depth interviews and observations with two groups (n = 20 per group) aged 13 to 17 years to compare the effects of traditional teaching methods with collaborative workshops using Cantonese Porcelain techniques as a medium in improving cultural understanding and engagement. The study found that, compared with traditional teaching methods, collaborative learning significantly enhanced students’ engagement and cultural identity, deepening their insights into Polo Birth Culture culture and Cantonese Porcelain techniques. These key findings not only provide a new perspective for the modern dissemination and popularization of Guangzhou's intangible cultural heritage, but also confirm the practical application value of collaborative learning in youth cultural education, opening up a new way for the protection and inheritance of local culture.