OBL is a student-centered learning approach that uses objects to facilitate deep learning by challenging students to interrogate objects and conceptualize their thinking. Students physically handle objects to make observations and draw meaning, enabling them to explore ideas and link observations to abstract concepts. Benefits of OBL include giving students a better 3D understanding than images and highlighting key lecture points through a visual aid.

1. Object-Based Learning (OBL)
and how it can be used.
OBL is a student-centred learning approach that uses objects to facilitate deep learning.

2. Objects
may take many forms, small or large, real or abstract

3. Offer a tactile experience challenges students to
interrogate the object and conceptualise their thinking.
Student-centred

4. Large Group
>180
Medium Group
50 - 20
Small Group
< 10
While the teacher facilitates this session, the students construct meaning for
themselves through their interactions with each other centred on the object
Any Group Size any Room

5. How are they used?
Problem Solving
Questioning
Peer-to-peer interaction
Abstract thinking
Students are asked to physically handle the objects and make observations about
its form, draw meaning from it, make comparisons to other objects or discuss its
function.

6. This approach enables the student to explore ideas, processes and events link
these observations to abstract ideas and concepts.
How is it used?

7. Increased Interactions in Teaching Sessions
Share the authority – ask them
about the object with no fail answers?
Give them time to think – let them
handle the object
Decentralize - Get them talking to
each other, not just to you.
Pair Share - ask them to turn to the student next to them and discuss
the object ; after this, they will have some ideas to share with the class
as a whole.

8. Benefits
"very useful for highlighting the key lecture
points as well as being a visual aid."
"they gave a better 3D understanding than a 2D
computer image."
Teaching with objects creates a direct, sensory connection between learners and
their subjects that results in new levels of interest and attention.