Free course

Looking at, describing and identifying objects

Free statement of participation on completion

This free course, Looking at, describing and identifying objects, will enable you to practise and develop your skills of observation and description of objects. It will also enable you to interpret objects and work towards writing your own object life cycle. You will also work with, and understand artefact databases.

Course learning outcomes

After studying this course, you should be able to:

demonstrate skills of observation and description of objects
interpret objects and work towards writing object life cycles
understand artefact databases.

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First Published: 02/09/2014

Updated: 12/07/2019

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Average rating 4.7 out of 5, based on 18 ratings.

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Course reviews

Doug Bawn 18 October 2025 5:35AM

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Interesting exercise, geared towards the identification of museum artifacts, describing in a more literal way, as opposed to artistically. Unfortunately the Netsuke figurine used in much of the course as a sample, no longer appears in the museum catalogue, so parts of the course are not able to be completed fully

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Alice Rebecca Arnstein 9 May 2022 4:39PM

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Really lovely short course that has properly introduced me to the art of observation. Very worthwhile and interesting!

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Looking at, describing and identifying objects

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Course reviews