Skip to main navigation menu Skip to main content Skip to site footer
University of the Arts London

Vol. 2 No. 3 (2017)

Research Papers

Wider-sensory exploration: Fostering curiosity in teaching and learning strategies

Published 2017-08-16

  • Richie Manu

Richie Manu
University of the Arts London

Abstract

This article explores how wider-sensory engagement in the curriculum can foster and stimulate curiosity in teaching and learning. By discussing research on curiosity, the development of a hypothesis on curiosity cultivation and workshop case studies, it also attempts to demystify curiosity. With the aim of instigating discussion on how teaching strategies can develop more measurable indicators of curiosity, it considers potential tangible methods of stimulating wider-sensory engagement within the student learning experience to inform creative and research outcomes. These include enabling educators to share discussions on how we could embed and incorporate wider-sensory creative provocations in assignment briefs.

Keywords

sensory engagement, curiosity, curriculum design, strategy, assessment, reflection

HTML PDF

Author Biography

Richie Manu

Richie Manu a best-selling author, designer and TEDx speaker. He teaches across UAL – including MA Applied Imagination at Central Saint Martins and MA Fashion Entrepreneurship and Innovation at London College of Fashion. A Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, he has a Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching in Higher Education. He is a UAL Teaching Award winner. With a background in design, branding and communications, he works with start-ups and entrepreneurs devising strategies on differentiating and standing out. His book YOU: Rebranded has received positive reviews and was noted as an essential read on personal branding, amplifying individuality and distinctiveness. 

References

  1. Amulya, J. (2004) ‘What is reflective practice?’, The Center for Reflective Community practice at MIT. Available at: http://www.supervisionandcoaching.com/pdf/What%20is%20Reflective%20Practice%20(Amulya%202004).pdf (Accessed: 17 June 2017).
  2. Berns, G. (2010) Iconoclast: a neuroscientist reveals how to think differently. Boston, Massachusetts: Harvard Business Press.
  3. Boon, W. (2014) Defining creativity: the art and science of great ideas. Amsterdam: BIS Publishers.
  4. Camargo, A. (2016) ‘How curiosity makes us smarter’, Huffington Post, 14 September. Available at: http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/araceli-camargo/how-curiosity-makes-us-smarter_b_8132290.html/ (Accessed: 14 June 2017).
  5. Csikszentmihalyi, M. (1996) Creativity: the psychology of discovery and invention. New York: Harper Collins Publishers.
  6. Davis, N. (2015) ‘Don’t just look – smell, feel, and hear art. Tate’s new way of experiencing paintings’, The Guardian, 22 August. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2015/aug/22/tate-sensorium-art-soundscapes-chocolates-invisible-rain (Accessed 20 June 2017).
  7. Ediriwira, A. (2015) ‘Ryoji Ikeda and the Vinyl Factory present supersymmetry at Brewer Street car park’, Vinyl Factory News, 13 February. Available at: http://thevinylfactory.com/news/ryoji-ikeda-and-the-vinyl-factory-present-supersymmetry-at-brewer-street-car-park/ (Accessed: 17 June 2017).
  8. Haverkamp, M. (2013) Synesthetic design: handbook for a multi-sensory approach. Basel: Birkhäuser.
  10. John, O.P. and Srivastava, S. (1999) ‘The big-five trait taxonomy: history, measurement and theoretical perspectives’, University of California at Berkeley, 5 March. Available at: http://pages.uoregon.edu/sanjay/pubs/bigfive.pdf (Accessed: 17 June 2017).
  11. Johnson, S. (2011) Where good ideas come from: the seven patterns of innovation. New York: Penguin.
  12. Kashdan, T.B. (2009) Curious? Discover the missing ingredient to a fulfilling life. New York: Harper Collins.
  13. Leslie, I. (2014) Curious: The desire to know why and how your future depends on it. London: Quercus.
  14. Manu, R. (2014) You: Rebranded: be seen, be heard, get noticed. Carmarthen, Wales: Independent Thinking Press.
  15. Matthews, D. (2016) ‘Chinese universities, “intellectual curiosity must replace targets” ’, Times Higher Education, 21 December. Available at: http:// https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/chinese-universities-intellectual-curiosity-must-replace-targets (Accessed: 17 June 2017).
  16. Merle, A. (2016) ‘Why curiosity is the key to breakthrough creativity’, Huffington Post, 1 July. Available at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/andrew-merle/why-curiosity-is-the-key-_b_10764428.html/ (Accessed: 17 June 2017).
  17. Naiman, L. (1999) ‘What is creativity?’, Creativity at work. Available at: http://www.creativityatwork.com/2014/02/17/what-is-creativity/ (Accessed: 17 June 2017).
  18. Robinson, K. (2006) ‘Do schools kill creativity?’, TED, February. Available at: https://www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity/ (Accessed: 17 June 2017).
  19. Seitz, A.R. and Shams, L. (2008) ‘Benefits of multisensory learning’, Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 12(11), pp.411–417. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2008.07.006.
  20. Wahl, E. (2013) Unthink: rediscover your creative genius. New York: Crown Business.
  21. University of the Arts London (2011) Taught Postgraduate Marking Criteria. London: UAL. Available at: https://myintranet.arts.ac.uk/media/arts/study-at-ual/academic-regulations/documents/PG-Marking-Criteria-Matrix-with-Letter-Grades.pdf (Accessed: 16 July 2017).
  22. University of the Arts London (2015) UAL Strategy 2015–22: transformative education for a creative world. London: UAL. Available at: http://www.arts.ac.uk/about-ual/strategy-governance/ual-strategy-2015-22/ (Accessed: 17 June 2017).