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A collective of educators and students engages in immersive art- and design-driven practice to reimagine higher-education and primary-school teaching and learning at, and beyond, the University of Teacher Education. 

Rooted in curiosity, care and attentiveness to diverse histories and voices, the collective offers open-ended impulses that anyone can adapt, question or extend across a growing constellation of educational hubs.

© 2025 Emerging Space Collective (CC BY‑NC 4.0)

Method: Connection Walk


Overview:

A 20-minute pair exercise that deepens trust, heightens non-visual senses, and foregrounds shared authority—designed for educator–student cohorts in higher-education settin

1. Introduction & Consent (3 min):
  • Gather on a lawn or open indoor space. 
  • Facilitator explains purpose: to explore trust and sensory awareness through guided, low-risk movement. 
  • Emphasize voluntariness and offer alternatives (closed eyes only, light scarf, or full blindfold).


2. Pairing & Role Brief (2 min):
  • Form pairs. One person becomes the Navigator (eyes open), the other the Explorer (eyes closed or blindfolded).
  • Clarify that the Explorer sets pace (“slow down,” “speed up”) and can pause at any time; honouring their autonomy.

3. Guided Walk (8 min total: 4 min each role):
  • Navigator gently leads Explorer along a simple route (e.g., 10-15 meter loop), calling out subtle environmental cues (ground texture, ambient sounds).
  • Explorer practices trusting the guide and tuning into sound, touch, balance, and spatial awareness.
  • After 4 minutes, pause, remove coverings, and switch roles.

4. Paired Reflection (4 min):
Still in pairs, discuss:
  • “How did relinquishing sight affect your other senses?”
  • “What felt most challenging or empowering about guiding or being guided?”

5. Group Debrief (3 min):
Gather in a circle. Invite 2–3 quick shares:
  • One insight on trust or shared authority for teaching

Cultural & Contextual Sensitivity:
Recognize that comfort with sensory deprivation and physical guidance varies by culture, accessibility needs, and personal history. Always offer opt-in alternatives, respect each person’s boundaries, and honour the Explorer’s authority over pace and participation.

Inspired by Carl Manuel Funk