Dr John Miles is Training Officer for the Humanities Division of the University of Oxford

“At The Oxford Research Centre for the Humanities, and in the Humanities Division at Oxford more generally, the Agile Objects course, developed by Jim and Senta presents a unique practice-led opportunity for our researchers. During the sessions, they consider not only how a material context can engage students in their lectures and tutorials, but also how that context reveals many of the preconceptions that underpin a more ‘traditional’ text-based pedagogy.  Their initiative reflects a wider, coordinated approach to training research students in the Humanities Division at Oxford, in which ideation and practice are construed as the natural next steps for researchers to take beyond undertaking training courses, in which training, teaching and research are integrated together rather than appearing to stand as separate things, and in which the pliability and transferability of skills and experience is recognised and valued.”