In a world where visual and virtual have
become vital, we are often without tools allowing us to decipher the images
assailing us from all sides with some appreciative distance. Mercredi offers a pedagogical kit that will allow us
to acquire knowledge using reasoning that combines experimentation, observation
and understanding.
As we manipulate three-dimensional objects, we become
the actors of our learning experience. The lesson becomes an experiment, not
just a theoretical exposé.
Acting and observing before understanding: Each
participant is encouraged to concretely discover and grasp the lines of force
of Romanesque architecture as they are confronted to the challenges of the
master builders. This practical experience aims at making the understanding of
the physics element of equilibrium easier, and to acquire knowledge playfully
with a view of better integrating the subject broached.
The practical activity, the questions it triggers and
the concluding personal deductions also aim to encourage participants to
develop their own space of personal reflection and to stimulate their critical
aptitudes. The quality of this experience makes it a more general tool of
comprehension, one that is easily applicable to other situations.