Medieval Badges
Experiential Learning
In June 2018 and 2019, Professor Ann Marie Rasmussen taught an undergraduate course at the University of Waterloo on medieval badges. The course culminated in a small group of students visiting England to study medieval badges, participate in museum work, and experience recreated medieval pilgrim experiences.
Ellen Siebel-Achenbach, Sara Fontes, Ann Marie Rasmussen, Amy Jeffs, and Samir Reynolds pose with their passes at the British Museum.
Ann Marie Rasmussen displays a replica Wilsnack pilgrim badge.
The students visited a variety of museums in England to deepen their knowledge of medieval Europe through the lens of badges. The students handled and analysed badges at the British Museum, the Museum of London, and the Lynn Museum, the Bristol Museum Shed and the Salisbury Museum and examined medieval manuscripts at the Parker Library. Students also visited many historical holy sites: Westminster Abbey, King’s College Chapel, Ely Cathedral, Salisbury Cathedral, and Bristol Cathedral. For the students, a highlight of the trip was experiencing some aspects of medieval pilgrimage such as walking in silence as a group and singing medieval songs in a round. Their research and work was contributed to an exhibition at the Lynn Museum as well as to the Mysteries Solved and Unsolved blog on this website.
““This course was unique because it used experiential learning. The set experiences and curriculum were so engaging, immersive and fun that learning flowed easily. One of the most unique undergraduate courses I have been a part of.””
The badges provided students with a rich and nuanced gateway to reflect on medieval history and on the long history of the use of images as visual markers. The trip was indispensable for the students. Physical examination of the badges and medieval manuscripts was most important as not all details can be discerned from photographs due to deterioration. It was also so important to show and immerse students in the physical world of historical cathedrals and churches as it showed them the ubiquitous iconography that surrounded the medieval pilgrim.
A special thanks to Amy Jeffs, Lloyd de Beer, and Caley McCarthy for their help in the success of the courses.