3 minute read
WE DID IT
WE DID IT!
QUESTION TIME
with the Darwins
Down House education volunteers Gill and David Edwards explain how they were able to bring Charles and Emma Darwin into classrooms via Zoom.
FIND OUT MORE To find out more about how schools can pilot a digital session please contact our bookings team at bookeducation@english-heritage.org.uk
We have been volunteering at Down House, The Home of Charles Darwin, for 18 months. We are house volunteers and also facilitate the Discovery Visit ‘Darwin’s Daring Discoveries’ for primary school children.
Adjusting to lockdown In March, we were disappointed when group visits were cancelled due to the pandemic, but delighted when the house reopened to visitors. In September, several school groups returned to Down House on self-led visits, but most were still anxious about returning and some were asking if we offered any virtual engagement options. So, we had discussions with Lucie Tuck-Brown, South Territory Education Officer, and Bryony Blackburn, Site Manager, on ways to engage and support schools during these challenging times. Since then, we have successfully taken part in delivering pilot virtual Q&A sessions to school groups in character and as English Heritage volunteers, covering various themes, sometimes supported with a screen shared presentation or videos. As we deliver Discovery Visits and volunteer in the house, we already knew a lot about Charles Darwin and Down House and felt comfortable to take this challenge on.
An array of questions Supported by Lucie, we have been able to take part in various virtual engagement pilot sessions. The children’s questions have been very varied: asking about Darwin’s life on HMS Beagle, his favourite pet and how he felt after publishing his controversial theories. There were also challenging questions – ‘Did Darwin believe he was a disappointment to his father?’ To be able to answer these Gill and I have done lots of reading and found The Darwin Correspondence Project based at Cambridge University very informative and useful. I was delighted to hear that Gill and David were happy to provide sessions to schools virtually. It’s been such a difficult year for the site with the lack of engagement with children who usually fill our corridors with life and energy. It’s been fantastic to hear the feedback from these sessions and all the different questions that are being asked. This type of session really
Lucie shares the benefit: ‘Gill and David are retired teachers and passionate about history. I was keen to foster this infectious enthusiasm and we got to work to ensure we were responding to schools’ requests in this difficult time. They are a real asset to the volunteering team at Down House and help to bring the history to life.’
The sessions were a success We thoroughly enjoy these sessions and it’s great to have found a way to be working with children again. The schools who we have worked with so far have been just as enthusiastic and we have received some great feedback, such as ‘It was nice to allow the children the questions that they really wanted to know, the length and depth of answers was perfect for this age group’, ‘We wouldn’t hesitate to book a visit to Down House and Zoom calls if they continue after lockdown’ and ‘This has been one of the best things that we have done so far this year.’
Reaching a wider audience It will be really lovely when school parties visit Down again, but perhaps Zoom will provide a way for schools across the country to learn more about Charles Darwin and his home at Down. In fact, we have just done a Zoom session with a school in Cornwall. I wonder where the next one will be. ■
Bryony Blackburn, Site Manager
Gill Edwards
David Edwards
is giving children the opportunity to engage with important figures in history first hand. It has certainly made us think about how we can continue to develop the education programme at Down House. We are so lucky to have volunteers like Gill and David who are so passionate about their site. I can’t wait to see what 2021 brings.
