The task for this session was to prepare and deliver a 20-minute synchronous online learning activity based around a physical or virtual object.
The object I based the activity around was a scrunched paper ball. I thought this would be an accessible object, that participants could easily make in their own space. I was interested in mixing a physical activity with the digital, so this was a good starting point.
I researched haptic drawing references and resources and found the following reading useful; On Making Haptic Drawings & Accordion Fold Books (2015) by Stephen Vincent, and Touching to see: Haptic Description and 21st Century Visuality (2016) by Kate Haug.
Participants were asked to describe non visual, sensual experiences of the paper ball through drawing. Touch and sound were the starting points to introduce the use of haptics in drawing and experiencing art. I referred to a drawing by the artist Stephen Vincent from my research, who makes haptic drawings from sounds at poetry readings.
The initial plan was over complicated for the twenty minutes time frame, so I pared it down, while aiming to keep a sense of the activity unfolding.
The experience of doing this session was enlightening. I hadn’t fully appreciated the insights I would gain from both delivering and hearing peer feedback. It reinforced my ideas and encouraged me to think further about how we could incorporate physical experience in online learning contexts.
I enjoyed an activity led by another group member where we created a story together. While doing this I was able to appreciate a group building task on the Collaborate whiteboard which gave a chance to joke with other group members, creating a sense of much needed connection in the online context.
OBL Feedback
- Really lovely use of ordinary materials
- Great framing of the activity at the end with a quote and reference
- Relevant context to what we’re all experiencing
- Fun and calming exercise, gave me an opportunity to be reflective
- Not overwhelmed by information, became more engaging as time went on, good development
- Tangible element of pen and paper combined with digital drawing at the end was a great combination
- Presentation of slides was very clear and set up very well
- Non classical nature of holding the paper was revolutionary and led to an interesting way of avoiding a pressured outcome