Case Study We worked in partnership with Warren Comprehensive School as part of the DfES ICT Testbed project. The pilot project concentrated on GCSE, AS and A2 levels, i.e. 16 –18 year olds. Themes were chosen according to the syllabus. These were ‘Conflict in Paintings’, ‘Portraits’ and ‘On the Surface’, an investigation of textiles in the Gallery paintings. Months of preparation by the school and the Gallery went into devising the individually tailored programmes. The Warren students also benefited from practical art sessions at the Gallery. For example the DiGIT ‘Portraits’ investigation was followed up by life drawing in the Gallery art studio. This supplemented and considerably enriched the experience.
For more information visit www.dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk www.streetaccess.co.uk Dulwich Picture Gallery is an independent charity and receives no central Government funding.
‘You never would have got that much work out of me if I hadn’t had this.’ Warren Comprehensive School A2 level student
What did we learn? Both the Gallery and the school were impressed by the intense concentration and focus of the pupils when using the palmtop computers. The total engagement of those of all abilities during the pilot programme was repeatedly mentioned in all the teachers’ evaluations. Three methods of communication have been achieved during the one gallery visit. With an introductory tour followed by the DiGIT sessions, pupils have both read and listened to information about the pictures, and articulated their responses via both oral and written communication. Drawing activities led by the handheld computers and our teachers provide another way of engaging with the paintings.
The Future For the pupils, the handheld computers provided an important bridge to the Collection – many teenagers are more familiar with Internet technology and handheld devices than they are with fine art galleries.
Based on the solid experience of our one year pilot project, Dulwich Picture Gallery is extending DIGIT. A two year partnership project with Smartzone Excellence in Cities Action Zone (EiCAZ), will trial DIGIT with Southwark primary schools beginning in September 2004. During Phase 1, we will work closely with 4 selected schools to develop a complete set of Key Stage Two digital worksheets, carry out DiGIT INSET days and pilot a variety of follow up activities and projects. The programme will be opened up to the remaining schools in the zone during Phase 2 and these will benefit from the experience gained in phase one. DIGIT is an innovatory learning programme which has inspired the interest of many. This is a potent new way of learning that could shape museum education of the future. DiGIT paves the way for using ICT creatively.
The Sackler Centre for Arts Education
DiGIT Digital Gallery Interactive Teaching
‘A Technical Revolution in Sir John Soane’s Gallery’
What is DiGIT? DiGIT is an interactive learning experience that is unique to Dulwich Picture Gallery. Using handheld palmtop computers, the latest wireless technology and StreetAccess software, the Gallery is introduced to the user in a completely and exciting new way. What makes DiGIT unique is the use of this cutting edge technology for interactive learning and research in an Old Master gallery.
Looking at the future: Dulwich Picture Gallery pioneers a new way of learning
How DiGIT works
Interaction: School and Gallery
The digital learning activities are designed by Dulwich Picture Gallery in conjunction with school teachers. They take the form of interactive worksheets, which ask in-depth questions about the pictures.
The DiGIT co-ordinator works closely with school teachers to modify existing learning programmes and to create new interactive worksheets to cater for each school’s individual needs.
The responses are entered as typed text or multiple-choice answers. All responses entered by the pupil are then saved in the learner’s own web-based file for extended work in school or at home. As the programme is web-based, there are no boundaries dictating where the work can be continued or what direction it can take.
The school teachers can adapt the experience for the class. For example, individual children can have access to extra web pages. These can be developed for children with learning difficulties who need additional support. Those who wish to race ahead can be challenged and stimulated with further investigations. The Dulwich Picture Gallery DiGIT co-ordinator advises on follow-up activities which combine Art with Information and Communication Technology (ICT). This embeds the Gallery visit within the scheme of work as well as offering opportunities to use ICT creatively.
The DiGIT experience
DiGIT Gallery
School Pupil
DiGIT
DiGIT
Home
The DiGIT Experience
Preview Prior to the Gallery visit, the pupil previews the learning trail at home or at school on any computer connected to the Internet. This preparation outlines the purpose of the visit and introduces the capabilities of the software.
Gallery Visit The group is welcomed and introduced to the Gallery environment and building inside and out by a Gallery teacher. They find out why Dulwich Picture Gallery is such a special place. Following this, the DiGIT co-ordinator introduces the palmtop computers and how to use them in the Gallery space. Pupils can ask any questions before they embark on their individual journeys led by the DiGIT programme.
Using DiGIT Pupils explore the recommended paintings individually, led by the tailor-made programme. Each programme has been created especially for a particular group by the teacher and Gallery co-ordinator. Pupils have personal control over how the pictures are investigated. They can choose which pictures or themes to study in the Gallery within their specific investigation, responding to the specially made questions and sketching activities. As they become familiar with the collection, they can return to a painting and update their responses. All work is immediately saved and is accessible on any computer – at school, at home, in a public library or Internet cafÊ.
Follow Up Activities can be continued back at school or home. The programme allows additional information and prompts to be added in the Review section. Reviewing the work, pupils are asked further questions to stimulate deeper interest in the paintings.
In the pilot project, follow up work included Powerpoint presentations to the class about an artist featured in DiGIT. Digital videos of these were taken and included in their final exam assessment. The teacher was highly impressed by their increased confidence in discussing Old Master paintings following the DiGIT experience.
This programmes realises the potential of the Internet and provides a structure for developing research This is a student’s final A2 level skills and extending knowledge. portfolio showing his follow-up work from the Gallery visit. The sketches were developed from those suggested by the DiGIT programme in the Gallery. Further background information was gathered from Internet links posed by DiGIT.