Abstract:

Hybrid and remote learning and increasingly popular and important modes of engagement in higher education, however subjects with a focus on physical objects or materials face additional challenges in remote engagement. Drawing from experience teaching with museum collections at the University of Glasgow in hybrid conditions, this paper discusses some of the challenges and opportunities presented through using a visualiser to facilitate collections engagement. Using experience of teaching a whole cohort masters class of 50 students, the paper details the methods and technologies used to communicate between students in the collections laboratory, and students based in their homes. The results suggested that while proving challenging to set up, hybrid object engagement offers opportunities for social constructivist learning that exceeds those opportunities offered in the same classes taught in person, allowing both parties to benefit from their contexts to support learning. This suggests new avenues for teachers to utilise technology productively. It will be relevant for anyone interested in exploring hybrid learning, particularly those with physical collections, materials, or laboratory work.

Keywords:

Technology, education, collections, hybrid, remote.