Workshop Information

Overview of the Workshops

This section provides a rough overview of the three co-creation workshops.

Workshop 1: 

This workshop focuses on the history of St Mary’s Abbey. We will be joined by the Head of Collections and Research, Andy Woods. He introduces himself and explains what his section of the workshop will cover on the meet the team page. Andy will talk to the group about the history of the Abbey and take the group on a tour of the outside ruins, and the ruins which are inside the basement of the Yorkshire Museum. In the second part of the workshop, the group will discuss what they find interesting about the history of the Abbey. The group will discuss different ways in which the history of the Abbey could be presented in an interesting and accessible way using an immersive audio experience.

Workshop 2: 

This workshop focuses on immersive audio. The group will explore examples of immersive audio uses in a heritage context. These could include: Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality and Spatial Audio experiences. The group will discuss the accessibility of these technologies and workshop how immersive audio could be used to make an accessible heritage experience of St Mary’s Abbey.

Workshop 3:

This workshop focuses on cementing ideas for what a prototype accessible, immersive audio experience might look like.

Workshop 1 Content

Part 1:

1. Introductions (everyone)

2. Introduction to the research project (Jess Schofield)

3. History of St Mary's Abbey (Andy Woods) this section will be accompanied by images in a PowerPoint presentation printed copies will be provided (in-person). The section will cover:

   1. What is an Abbey?

   2. Who were the Benedictines?

   3. When was the Abbey founded and why?

   4. What was life like in the Abbey?

   5. When did life in the Abbey end and why?

   6. Overview of the ruins of the Abbey

   7. Tour of the ruins (inside and outside the museum)

   8. Objects in the museum collection

   9. Overview of how the history of the Abbey has been shared with audiences recently

   10. Time for questions

Part 2:

Part 2 will discuss the history of the Abbey and how this could be presented in an accessible, immersive audio experience. The lead researcher (Jess) will use the following questions to prompt discussion:

1. How many times have you visited the Abbey ruins/Museum Gardens in the past?

2. How much did you know about the Abbey before today?

3. Have you been to any heritage sites where you really enjoyed the way the information was presented? What made it enjoyable?

4. Have you been to any heritage sites where you particularly disliked the way the information was presented? What didn't you like about it?

5. What parts of the history of St Mary's Abbey do you find the most engaging?

6. What do you think would be a good way of presenting that infomation?

Workshop Reflection

This research is interested in finding out about your experiences taking part in the workshops. At the end of each workshop, you will be asked to complete a workshop reflection form. You can do this digitally using your own device, or using one of our devices. There will also be printed copies of the consent form available at the in-person workshops.