Curious Hands conference

Despite the energy and enthusiasm for new digital technologies in the classroom, we still know little about the role that physical materials play in learning. In this talk, Anna focused on the sensorality of physical objects in university education, especially the role of sound and touch. Drawing from in-depth ethnographic fieldwork completed at the precipice of the pandemic-led explosion in online education, she discussed some of the key findings of a 5 year European Research Council funded team project on sensing in medical education. She delved into an age-old question- how does the way we learn affect what we learn? – and explored how making with materials opened up alternative ways of imagining bodies. The talk not only included insights from the ethnographic and historical project but also details of pedagogical interventions we did as part of the project, involving hands-on learning with simple, low cost materials.

Find more information about the conference and Anna's talk here!