Tower Project at The Rix Centre Session Seven 17.09.14

Below is the easy read programme for session seven.

Tower project Workshop SEVEN programme

Tower project Workshop SEVEN programme

We split into two groups, group A was Investigating littleBits go LARGE the video below shows some short clips of the investigation as we tried to find out how easy it was to understand the pink output devices were and if we could add something visual to aid understanding. Our UROP (Undergraduate research opportunity placement) student Kassie introduced the session, the clip shows the group trying a light sensor.

Group B began to explore further the idea of a Sensory Label exploring textures, smells and sounds.

Sensory Labels Workshop

Sensory Labels Workshop

 

Sensory Labels Workshop2

Sensory Labels Workshop2

Tim’s Hieroglphs

Tim’s Hieroglphs

Tim had a go at  about making his own Hieroglyphic’s inspired by the Egyptian mummy he chose. We discussed how we could use the laser cutter at the University of Reading to engrave it into wood. The picture below shows Tim’s drawing of a plane and name done in the style of Hieroglyphs.

Discussion with Reading Mencap at MERL

This video documents our discussion after our pilot workshop at MERL with Reading Mencap organised by our UROP student Kassie. We wanted to find out what the group enjoyed, did they like using the sound box?, what other sounds would they like to hear?, would they like to leave their own sounds? were the instant photos useful? Suggestions included a stuffed sheep that would make a sound, we liked this idea but won’t be holding a taxidermy workshop at MERL! Thanks to everyone involved.

Summer Activities Cookbook and Extra Sensory Objects

sowordle

sowordle

Over the summer the Sensory Objects team have been compiling a CookBook of Sensory Activities see more here

We have also been developing tools to use with our Co-Researchers during workshops find out more Extra Sensory Objects here

 

Pilot Workshop at MERL Museum of English Rural Life Reading

Today we held our first pilot workshop at MERL Museum of English Rural Life, in Reading. We were joined by Co-Researchers from Mencap Reading, many thanks to Miranda, Stacy, Charley, Caroline, support worker Alle and Stuart from MERL who gave us the tour. Also thanks to Kassie our project UROP student thats Undergraduate Research Opportunity Placement who devised and organised the workshop and Nic and Craig who made the sound box kit we used during the day.

The picture below was taken by Miranda using an instant camera it shows us all in the education room at MERL

Group shot by Miranda

Group shot by Miranda

The picture below is a group shot taken by Charley with the instant camera

Group with taken by Charley

Group with taken by Charley

We used two instant cameras, we asked the group to photo anything in the museum that matched sounds on special sound boxes that Nic and Craig had constructed. The picture below shows Stacy using one of the sound boxes. She turned a knob to choose sounds such as steam engine, sheep, hammering on an anvil and horses and milk bottles, then played them by pressing the button.

Stacy and sound box

Stacy and sound box

Kassie with Stacy and Caroline listen to sounds from the sound boxes.

Using sound boxes

Using sound boxes

The picture below shows the group listening to Stuart from MERL giving a tour of the museum.

Stuart gives tour of MERL

Stuart gives tour of MERL

The picture below shows the group finding out about metal work, Stuart showed us a draw of creatures made by blacksmiths from metal. We played the sound of an anvil being hit by a hammer and took so instant pictures.

All pointing in draw on tour

All pointing in draw on tour

The picture below shows all the instant photos the group shot.

all the instant photos the group shot

all the instant photos the group shot

Kassie prepared us a farmers lunch, she bought produce that came from farms and related to some of the equipment we had seen in the MERL collection. Our lunch included cheese, milk,apples, butter, bread, crisps, ham, tomatoes, chutneys it was delicious and gave us the chance to discuss where and how the food was produced. Caroline mentioned that they had visited a farm recently and watched milk being churned. The picture below shows us eating lunch.

Eating Lunch

Eating Lunch

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After lunch we made our own sounds to accompany a silent films about farming the group were very creative using all sorts of things to make sounds and creating sounds with their voices.

Making sound effects

Making sound effects

 

Sound effects

Sound effects