Advantages
This task fosters in students a sense of ownership or personalisation in regards to their object and their subsequent research. This produces an active, practical learning environment that promotes high levels of retention and engagement. Object-based inquiry is a unique and engaging way to facilitate critical thinking, and develop practical and analytical skills relevant to working with material collections. This assessment is well suited to courses interested in the ways objects produce knowledge and meanings different to written texts, or where learning objectives are to obtain a deeper insight into the relationships between people and things in inter-cultural contexts.
Challenges
Students may be unable to access objects outside of specific times (in the case of private collections, for example). This can be mitigated against by providing students with digital catalogues (where possible) and dedicating class time to completing the assessment.
Tips for implementation
It may be of value for staff to create a shortlist of objects for students to from, rather than an entire collection that can be extensive and overwhelming (e.g. UQ's Anthropology Museum has over 28,000 objects in its collection).
How it supports academic integrity
Although students may be able to access photographic depictions of their objects through online catalogues or databases, it is important to ensure that aspects of the assessment can only be completed by interacting with object in an embodied way, thus requiring students to be present at workshops and discouraging forms of misconduct such as outsourcing.