Activating exhibits: Teaching with archives and special collections displays beyond tours

This session took place at TPS Fest 2026. For more info on TPS Fest: https://tpscollective.org/events-and-... Presented by: Michele Jennings, Henry Handley, Bridget Retzloff, Andrea Van Dyke, Leigh Rupinski, Kate Carlin In this session, we will discuss strategies for making exhibits more engaging as teaching tools. Beyond traditional interventions such as conducting curator talks or organizing tours, panelists use a range of strategies to connect exhibits to campus events, spark creativity and independent research, introduce play and chance into exhibition spaces, or stimulate object-based interactions with learners. Attendees will hear about projects at a variety of scales and for a range of audiences.