A Walk through Housing History

Public Health, Environmental Health and Housing are traditionally seen as a “scientific” subjects. However, evidence demonstrates that incorporating a sense of the past into teaching and learning has multiple benefits to inclusive student learning, not least around deeper understanding but also in developing communication skills, including using social media.
Students at Middlesex University benefit from a range of teaching and learning methods, enhanced by access to the university’s Museum of Domestic Design and Architecture (MODA). We have collaborated over many years and used the archives to develop students’ understanding of housing, particularly in relation to health. This has led to fruitful learning opportunities around: an understanding of housing history, policy, ideology and value and how this shaped its development; access into and management of housing; the nature of construction, maintenance, possible deficiencies and remedy; as well as other incidental issues that stimulate students’ imagination.
We have developed a short local walking tour of Hendon, adjacent to our campus, which has housing dating back to the 1600s. Initially based on photovoice principles, we have encouraged students to engage with housing and the history of the local environment in a more immersive way. Initially using a PDF map with instructions, we are now developing an interactive google.map, incorporating carefully selected links and commentary which students can access via their smart phones. This can be used as a tutor-led tour with discussion around individual housing histories, or as a self-led student tour with stopping points and accessible learning resources.
To date students who have taken this tour have reported that they did not realise the rich housing history within minutes from campus, that they have never looked at or thought about housing in this way, and that it helped bring the subject to life and presented a new method of learning for them.