Educating Pharmacy Students with Museum Collections – A Case for Object-Based Learning

Abstract

ABSTRACT The Object-Based Learning (OBL) program at the Chau Chak Wing Museum provides bespoke experiences supported by the Academic Engagement team. This paper explores OBL as a pedagogical approach to stimulating student interest in studying the history of pharmacy. OBL workshops were implemented for a cohort of 311 first-year undergraduate pharmacy students. The workshop was collaboratively designed by pharmacy academics and museum curators and facilitated by the latter in the museum. Students worked in small groups and handled relevant collection items, investigating an object’s design, function, and relationship to modern-day practice, whilst developing observation, analysis and communication skills. Changes in student attitudes toward learning about the history of pharmacy were captured in baseline and post-workshop surveys. Significant positive changes were observed in students’ self-rating of knowledge gain, ability to interrogate and interpret unfamiliar objects, verbally communicate new ideas to peers and perceived relevance of the history of pharmacy to their future careers.