Interdisciplinary experiential learning through heritage-based workshops

Team: Dr Aaron Allen, Dr Bryony Coombs, and Dr Hope Doherty-Harrison

School: Institute for Academic Development and Edinburgh College of Art

Abstract

As work progresses on the Curriculum Transformation Project, which will make major interventions in many traditional degree programmes, many key challenges and new modes of teaching have yet to be trialled and explored with students, such as experiential learning. According to the Edinburgh Student Vision, experiential learning that crosses and unites disciplines is a ‘key component’ of Curriculum Transformation. This project aims to better understand the challenges and opportunities of delivering experiential education by running four experiential-learning workshops for students across several complementary disciplines.

The project brings together a range of stakeholders, both within the university and the local community, from the Lothians to Orkney. Stakeholders include several schools with interests in the UK’s Heritage Sector. External stakeholders include Continuum Attractions (Mary King’s Close), Orkney Libraries and Archives, the Scottish Record Society (SRS),and the 1722 Waggonway Heritage Group (WHG). The methodology used for the workshops will

be experiential education, situating classes either in historic sites themselves or using historical materials, such as medieval inks and parchment. We will publish an academic article on the results of our project, and we will organise a symposium to foster networks in pedagogical research.