Introduction to Material Culture is an online seminar class for undergraduate students at NSCAD University (Halifax), which explores the meaning embedded in objects.

This course provides an introduction to the world of objects and images, examining the roles they play in human society, and how they constitute ideological, aesthetic and social expression. Inspired by the BBC podcast series “A History of the World in a 100 Objects”, each week of content was structured around a particular object, which allowed us to explore history, theory, social and cultural contexts and more through tangible case-studies.

“I loved having the consistent format each week and the extra links, videos, podcasts that were expanding the topic” - Anonymous student survey

Designed as a completely asynchronous learning experience, this seminar course introduced undergraduate students to key issues related to the study of material culture. To maximize accessibility and leverage the unique learning experience of online courses, this class structured online content as videos, podcasts, and readings alongside weekly tasks that asked students to reflect on how that week’s content related to their personal experience. Through forum posts, students were able to explore questions that asked them to consider how objects in their environment were valued, how that value might change in the future, how the display of an object might change its meaning, or how immaterial objects might be valued differently.

In place of spending time our class-time on live-lecture content, student forums and reading notes were structured to receive both peer-feedback and in-depth commentary from the instructor. This leveraged the ability to give directed attention to individual students while also enabling students to learn from one another through the public forums. The written format and asynchronous design meant that students could pace their own way through the content and could go back to reflective feedback repeatedly.

“I really enjoyed taking this class. It was a comfortable learning environment and every week had important content relevant to our learning as artists and citizens. It was also helpful to be provided with different content like artist interviews, podcasts, reading, lectures as well as creative prompts to respond to.” - Student Course Evaluation

Since NSCAD is an art school, I wanted to make sure that there was room to be creative, so for the final projects, students were asked to explore the topics we had covered in class through a piece of speculative writing or an artwork that explored material culture through the point of view of an object. This produced a really engaging range of different projects that allowed students the freedom to explore their own interests within the parameters of the assignment.

“I thoroughly enjoyed this course and thought it was one of the best online courses I've done in my education. Given its subject, it worked as a remote learning experience because it was 1) self–paced, therefore maximizing accessibility to students who may be in varying time zones or living situations, 2) clearly and efficiently organized on Brightspace, and communicated the expectations effectively given the format, and 3) was taught by an instructor whose primary focus in learning comprehension was expanding on the ideas and concepts covered in the material, and finding ways for students to stay connected by creatively engaging with and adding to ongoing discussions.” - Student Course Evaluation

Weekly breakdown:
Week 1 - What is material culture? (British penny)
Week 2 - How do we value art? (Emily Carr painting)
Week 3 - Who determines value? (Wampum belt)
Week 4 - Why does meaning change over time? (Kintsugi bowl)
Week 5 - How does site affect meaning? (Guggenheim Museum NYC)
Week 6 - What happens when objects become immaterial? (“Famous Diamonds” short film by Daniel McIntyre)
Week 7 - What are the implications of experiential design on material culture? ("Hendricks Gin hot air balloon at Nuit Blanche)

Sample the course content:

SYLLABUS

INTRODUCTION TO THE COURSE

LECTURE DEMO: Week 1 - A British Penny