The Project as Provocation

In each of the projects our exploration of the built environment is a communal experience shared with the children, their teachers and families. Such an educational approach has given rise to the word ‘project’ to describe a process of shared learning. It is derived from the word ‘to project’ and reflects the idea of children learning by looking forward in their imagination; the sense of casting or throwing forward ideas and visualising the outcome.
It is this approach to learning that forms the basis of our research in practice. This is written up in greater detail and published in ‘Places + Children = Learning’ a copy of which can be obtained through the publication section of this website.

The only thing that is known when a project begins is that it will begin in ‘a place’ and expand outwards or focus inwards depending on the direction the children want to take it.

An educational activity which aims to reveal meanings and relationships through the use of original objects, by first hand experience and by illustrative media rather than to communicate actual information.  .  .  .  .  the chief aim of interpretation is not instruction but provocation  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .information as such is not interpretation but interpretation is revelation based on information.

Freeman Tilden – Interpreting Our Heritage