How to get in TOUCH with your research?

by Emilie Walsh & Dr Christina Tuke Flanders


Indiana Jones’ granddaughter…

Imagine Indiana Jones getting his hands on a beautiful ancient artefact…

Originally posted by t3chn0ir

How is he going to archive it and study it? It’s too fragile to be handled on an everyday basis, or to travel across the country to be examined by a fellow scholar… So, what would Indie do? Draw a beautiful board of detailed depiction of the artefact!

http://anthropology.si.edu/naa/exhibits/strong/strong4.htm

Next generation Indiana Jones Junior would probably just get his digital camera and take a snap of it!

But what would Indie’s granddaughter would do today? 3D scan it and built a beautiful digital 3D model of it, to share with researchers around the globe!


Data Storytelling

This year at Data Storytelling, we ran workshops for researchers working with Object-based data sets.

What is an object-based data set? It is any collection of three-dimensional objects you are working with for your research. This applies to a wide range of disciplines, from zoologists working with bones or taxidermy, to archaeologists researching ancient ceramic, but also medical or dentistry research, art history and conservation, and so on.

During our two-day workshop, our participant learnt to 3D scan objects, and generate a 3D model than they can then 3D print to have a replica or just visualise online and create beautiful online exhibition with 3D models, to share with other researchers.



Grainger museum at Data StoryTelling

For this event, we partnered with the Grainger museum, who kindly lent some objects from their collection.


We were lucky to dig out some treasure and touch (with gloves!) and play with some of the personal belongings of Percy Grainger!

The participants were thrilled to get that opportunity and soon started to ask all kinds of questions about this particular denture cast, or an enigmatic lady’s shoe from the 19th century!


Instead of looking at photos in a book of Percy Grainger’s artefacts, people were given the chance to directly interact with the real objects. This immediately engaged people because they can get a real life sense of  what these objects feel, weigh and even smell like. It’s a very visceral experience. It triggers the curiosity and get people working together very quickly!

What is object based learning?

Object-based learning has been a way to learn about cultural collections in the museum world for years, but it’s only recently that universities started to show an interest.

I asked our Training Consultant, Dr Christina Tuke Flanders, what are the benefits to bring Object Based Learning into the classroom.

She explained: “Introducing object based learning to your curriculum can make for a visceral experience for your students by lighting up their five senses. Touching objects that have a direct link to the past can enhance students imagination and therefore an understanding of a topic/concept.

This technique also promotes transferable skills such as teamwork and communication via the discussions that naturally stem from using objects in this way. And lastly, the brain loves novelty in learning, it is helpful to combine traditional learning experiences (lectures/tutorials/workshops) with an Object Based Learning experience.”


Object-based learning at the University of Melbourne

At the University of Melbourne, the new Arts West building has been designed to engage students with object-based learning. the cultural collections of the University are in display in windows across the building, and Arts West is equipped with a Gallery space for exhibitions and several Objects-Lab to engage directly with Artwork and artefact in the classroom

http://arts.unimelb.edu.au/articulation/editions/2016-editions/december-2016/object-based-learning-a-new-mode-in-arts-west

Case Study: Archaeology

3D printing can also be a fantastic tool for object-based learning. Annelies is a PhD candidate in Archaeology at the University of Melbourne and she has 3D scan some of the materials she works with, such as a Cyrus Cylinder, or some Egyptian statuette at Data Storytelling (Read more about it here).

She 3D printed a fac-simile of her Cyrus cylinder for conservation and pedagogy purposes. How great is it for students to actually get to touch a replica of a 3D artefact! To feel the embossing and engraving in it, to have a precise idea of its size and shape, is the best way to remember it and connect with it through experience.

Think of the potential of 3D printing for communication and teaching: how cool would it be to bring a 3D model at your talk for your audience to have a direct experience of what you are demonstrating!

If you want to organise a workshop on 3D modelling, 3D scanning and 3D printing, be in touch us at research bazaar!

Don’t be afraid and get in TOUCH with your research with Object Based Learning!

Originally posted by introverts-hideaway

3D Modellingobject based learning3D Scanning3D Printingdigital humanities