A sensory workshop in the framework of multiliteracy pedagogy
I have been working with my college Jenny Byman on this sensory workshop for children during a couple of years as part of the MOI-The Joy of Learning Multiliteracies development programme. In the workshop children are invited to create imaginary creatures through reflecting about different sensory experiences like: smells, sounds and textures. The creatures evolve and get new characteristics as different sensations are explored. We have been testing the workshop with children and developing it further through different settings. The best part of the process has been experiencing all the wonderful imaginary creatures the children in our workshops have created.
“The aim of the sensory workshop is to stimulate the children’s sense of curiosity and to encourage them to explore their immediate environment as well as inspire them to express themselves through interpretation. During the workshop, the children move both indoors and outdoors. The physical features of different learning environments are integrated in the pedagogical process. When improving children’s multiliteracy skills using arts-based methods, their creative process relies on their experiences, imagination and knowledge. The sensory observations allow them to explore, internalize and interpret features in the environment. This process can include elements such as discussions on aesthetic and social issues. The children are required to use their imagination to give new meanings to their observations while producing information from their subjective experiences, which they can share with others through their works of art.” (p. 40, Kumpulainen et al. 2018)
You can read more about the sensory workshop and it’s pedagogical steps in the digital version of the MOI development programme’s book: Playful Parts : The Joy of Learning Multiliteracies. Open access through this link
The book is also available in Finnish and in Swedish.
On the MOI-The Joy of Learning Multiliteracies web-page you can also find a blog post in Finnish, describing the Sensory Workshop.
Reference:
Playful Parts: The Joy of Learning Multiliteracies, Kumpulainen, K., Sintonen, S., Vartiainen, J., Sairanen, H., Nordström, A., Byman, J. & Renlund, J. (2018). Helsinki: the University of Helsinki
Bångstyriga bitar: Inlärning av multilitteracitet med glädje. Kumpulainen, K., Sintonen, S., Vartiainen, J., Sairanen, H., Nordström, A., Byman, J. & Renlund, J. (2018). Helsingfors: Helsingfors Universitet.
Kurittomat Palaset: Monilukutaitoa Opitaan Ilolla. Kumpulainen, K., Sintonen, S., Vartiainen, J., Sairanen, H., Nordström, A., Byman, J. & Renlund, J. (2018). Helsinki: Helsingin yliopisto