The example exercises provided here are purposely broad-stroke, and can be easily modified to meet specific pedagogical goals. Each exercise begins with an introductory explanation of the intention of the exercise, along with some suggested discussion questions.
The exercises are formatted so that guidance for instructors is italicized. A second version, with only the exercise itself, is also available for download. Instructors may decide which version they want to give their students in class.
Description and Interpretation:
This exercise asks students to be creative and expansive in their encounter with collections, building their research skills by moving them away from the impulse to categorize and define. It should also challenge students to identify the interrelationship between description and interpretation, and to be aware of themselves as both receivers and producers of knowledge.
This exercise can further help instructors assess the prior knowledge of their students at the start of the semester, or to evaluate student learning later on in the course. It may also assist students in selecting a topic or direction of inquiry for their course assignments.
To download or print with this exercise with instructor guidance, please refer to Description and Interpretation (PDF). To download or print this exercise with the activity only, please refer to Description and Interpretation, Activity Only (PDF).
Sketching and Storytelling:
This exercise encourages students to slow down, to spend more time observing an item, and so to give it more focused attention. It aims to help students notice elements they may otherwise overlook, to move beyond surface appearances, and to reflect on themselves as observers.
The impact of this exercise does not depend on the quality of students’ drawings, nor their accuracy.
To download or print this exercise with instructor guidance, please refer to Sketching and Storytelling (PDF). To download or print this exercise with the activity only, please refer to Sketching and Storytelling, Activity Only (PDF).
Collections as a Collection:
This exercise asks students to consider the interrelation of items in the aggregate, and to create a narrative that describes the ways in which items interact with people, the environment, and each other. The purpose of using collections to create a “just-so” narrative of everyday life is to help students expand their perceptions of cultural items as a part of someone’s lived reality, and as existing within an extensive network of relationships. Simultaneously, the narrative form should help to bring into focus those areas where their knowledge of that reality remains blurry.
This exercise does not require students to have deep knowledge of each item present, nor to provide narratives they can prove to be accurate – although they should avoid narratives they know to be false! Instead, it requires students think creatively and expansively.
To download or print this exercise with instructor guidance, please refer to Collections as a Collection (PDF). To download or print this exercise with the activity only, please refer to Collections as a Collection, Activity Only (PDF).