Object-Based Learning Laboratory

UCL academic Dr Helen Chatterjee and her colleagues Dr Rosalind Duhs, Dr Leonie Hannan and Dr Thomas Kador have developed a programme of research aiming to uncover ways to utilise the collections to make object-based learning a key part of what UCL teaching can offer.

As a part of this programme, UCL has created a dedicated space that suits the needs of object-based learning. By January 2020, the Old Refectory in the Wilkins Building had been redeveloped into the UCL Object-Based Learning Laboratory (OBLL), a learning space designed and equipped to facilitate teaching and research based on hands-on engagement with UCL collections and archives.

The space is designed to:

• Provide an ideal space in which to conduct object-based learning activities
• Be appropriately provisioned and equipped for this type of teaching
• Provide housing, visible storage and access to UCL historical Science Collections
• Increase the amount/variety of teaching sessions that use object-based learning

If you are a UCL academic and would like to develop a new session which uses the museums' collections, there is plenty of support at hand from a range of curators and museum experts. Museum staff are always happy to work with you to create new learning opportunities for your students or to enhance existing courses with object-focused activity. Our museums also provide inspiring environments for teaching.