Blended sensory walks : teaching data literacy through anthropological practice

Pretnar Žagar, Ajda (avtor), Muršič, Rajko (avtor)

anthropology curricula often neglect quantitative and computational methods, leavingstudents underprepared for data-rich research. yet ethnographic practices such as sensorywalks naturally generate digital materials suited for computational analysis. We developed ablended intervention that combines sensory walks with image clustering, introducing datascience while preserving anthropology’s experiential and interpretive focus. Participants usedsmartphones to document sensory impressions during 30–45-minute walks, creating smallpersonal datasets. Images were embedded and clustered with hierarchical clustering. Testedin four workshops with groups ranging from primary school pupils to postgraduate students,the results were explored interactively, interpreted qualitatively, and discussed collectively,linking algorithmic outputs with ethnographic reflection. The activity produced three mainoutcomes. First, clustering highlighted thematic patterns in images, such as contrasts betweenurban and natural motifs. second, participants gained accessible exposure to embeddings,clustering, and exploratory analysis, building data literacy. Third, the exercise prompted criticalreflection on algorithmic methods, raising questions of trust, interpretability, and limits.Participants also reported greater sensory awareness of their surroundings. This approach shows how computational methods can be integrated into anthropology without sacrificinginterpretive depth. Its simplicity, adaptability, and low cost make it a scalable model for teaching and research.

• Jezik: Angleški jezik
• Ključne besede: sensory walking, data science, image analytics, quantitative methods, teaching anthropology
• Vrsta gradiva: Članek v reviji
• Tipologija: 1.01 - Izvirni znanstveni članek
• Organizacija: FRI - Fakulteta za računalništvo in informatiko; FF - Filozofska fakulteta
• Status publikacije: Objavljeno
• Različica publikacije: Objavljena publikacija
• Leto izida: 2026
• Št. strani: 17 str.
• Številčenje: Vol. , no.
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-180813
• UDK: 004:37:39
• ISSN pri članku: 0888-4552
• DOI: 10.1080/08884552.2026.2635502
• COBISS.SI-ID: 271510787
• Datum objave v RUL: 17.03.2026

Gradivo je del revije

• Naslov: Practicing anthropology
• Skrajšan naslov: Pract. anthropol.
• Založnik: Society for Applied Anthropology
• ISSN: 0888-4552
• COBISS.SI-ID: 521234969

Licence

• Licenca: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0, Creative Commons Priznanje avtorstva-Nekomercialno-Brez predelav 4.0 Mednarodna
• Povezava: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/deed.sl
• Opis: Najbolj omejujoča licenca Creative Commons. Uporabniki lahko prenesejo in delijo delo v nekomercialne namene in ga ne smejo uporabiti za nobene druge namene.

Sekundarni jezik

• Jezik: Slovenski jezik
• Ključne besede: senzorni sprehodi, podatkovna znanost, analiza slik, kvantitativne metode, poučevanje antropologije