## Examples VU Amsterdam

Although OBT&L is not yet a teaching pillar within VU Amsterdam, some examples of applications can be mentioned, both with and without objects from the special collections. The examples listed below are intended to build on and serve as a starting point for expansion.

Heritage objects & 3D printer

Source: Monique Kooijmans, 2019

- Teaching conservators with heritage objects
  Curators at the University Library devote some of their hours to teaching that revolves around the heritage materials available in their collections.
- Kalverstraat 62
  3D print construction of Kalverstraat 62 commissioned by teacher at the UvA. Through the construction, students are able to calculate proportions of the house and view the wood construction - normally hidden behind facade - in 3D.

Medical models & VR

- Anatomy application Organon
  The VR application "Organon" lets students work with a virtual body that they can dissect in order to interact with (the parts of) the body in preparation for the dissecting room.
- Medical models
  Medical models of body parts are used within medical faculty (and perhaps ACTA).

A set of brains in your hands & throwing dog plushies

Source: Dibbets, 2025
Source: Lin, 2025

University lecturer in applied linguistics, Jing Lin, used 3D-printed brains to bring linguistic processes in the brain to life. Using various cases, the students drew information processing routes on the 3D print. Where does language enter? Which hemisphere processes it? And how does this work in people with an ear infection? Students answered these questions and more by drawing information processing routes.

In addition, students learned how different parts of the brain respond to seeing, hearing and naming by throwing a dog plushie. The lecturer gave the students several cases in which the students had to demonstrate the linguistic information process 'through the brain'. They did this by throwing a dog plushie to different parts of the brain. The students themselves took on roles of the brain.

Want to know more about this and curious about what students thought of this method? Read it in the article we wrote about it.

From Kuyper to King: how heritage makes students think about academic freedom

Bron: Dibbets, 2025

What happens when students truly encounter history? How does their perspective on contemporary topics change when they study original documents from the past? What if students did not just read, but also smell, feel, and listen?

During the workshop by Eline Bos (curator of academic heritage, University Library) - developed in collaboration with university historian Ab Flipse - students from Washington had the opportunity to literally experience the past.

Curious about how Eline let the students experience the past using UNESCO heritage objects? Then read our article about it!

More examples? Check this link.