Alexandra M. Lord, Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of American History
Amanda L. Mahoney, Dittrick Medical History Center, Case Western Reserve University
Session Abstract
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, questions about how to engage students with the history of the body and improve access to museum collections have escalated. Similarly, the pandemic raised questions about the social and historical contexts that shape the healthcare experience. While there are no simple answers to these questions, using material culture in the classroom, especially as it relates to the familiar (the body), may provide an appealing entry point into history. This approach can also be particularly engaging for students whose backgrounds are in STEM fields—students who may not see themselves as potential historians but are interested in technology.
This lightning round session will entail a conversation about the potential for material culture to facilitate classroom discussions and student engagement. Panelists will each present a five-minute overview of two to three objects they use in the classroom or steward within a museum. These presentations will launch a discussion focused on potential partnerships between faculty and museums to foster an in-depth exploration of material culture as it relates to the past. While the session will focus on objects related to the history of the body, participants will be encouraged to explore how historical objects that document a broad range of histories can be brought into the classroom.
Participants will explore questions such as: How can faculty work with museums to create lesson plans that engage learners with museum artifacts? How can we encourage students to understand that the objects they use every day have a history? How can objects associated with the body be used to highlight issues related to diversity, especially in today’s political environment? How can museums improve online resources for educators? Should museums prioritize 3D scanning of collections, enabling faculty to use 3D printing technologies to bring objects directly into students’ hands? Can students, faculty, and curators collaborate to improve online resources about material culture for the general public?