• January 10, 2026 | 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
• Continental 8/9, Ballroom Level

8A: Creating Self-Guided Object-Based Learning Materials (Workshop)

Sponsored by:
AIA Outreach & Education Committee

Organizers:
Jen Thum, Harvard Art Museums, and Meredith Langlitz, AIA

Overview Statement:
The AIA’s Outreach & Education Committee proposes an interactive workshop on the development of self-guided object-based learning resources, to be led by the vice president for outreach and education and committee members. The workshop will be open to all AIA members wishing to flex their learning-design skills for a public audience of their choice. Participants will be asked to select an artifact ahead of time (such as one they have excavated, a famous one, or one in the care of a museum where they work) as well as one or more audiences for which to develop their resource. During the workshop, the organizers will model pedagogically responsible and ethical active learning practices with artifacts and lead a discussion of these methods. Each participant will then work though an object-based learning resource template, concurrently with the rest of the group, with everyone aiming to complete a draft by the end of the session. Those who wish to take their drafts one step further will be invited to share them with members of the O&E committee, who will provide edits for streamlining and ultimately post them on the AIA website, where they will be available for download by educators and other members of the public interested in learning directly from objects.

SCS members are welcome to participate. “Extra” objects will be available for those who are not able to select one ahead of time. All artifacts used in the workshop will be expected to be documented in accordance with the AIA Policy on the Presentation and Publication of Undocumented Antiquities.