A night (or day) at the museum

By Heather Barker Vermeer

Industry Reporter

Schools want to develop global citizens with critical thinking skills, eff ective communication, problem solving, subject immersion and a love of learning.

A trip to a museum should be high on the list, then. With modern museums off ering much more than a ticket in, teachers are no longer tasked with producing printouts, name badges, and no longer need to transform into an expert on any given subject matt er at the drop of a hat. Museums are a boon for learning experiences, and the museum trip itself is a joy for LEOTC-weary teachers. Whatever the theme, location, or history of a museum, experiencing learning in an informationrich, unfamiliar environment submerges students and staff in something new – together. It provides a perspective that cannot be taught from the familiar comfort of the classroom. Being in a stimulating new environment can fuel the imagination, trigger new ideas and sometimes break habits in thinking or behaviour. By taking learning experiences out of the classroom and into the museum, you are able to allow your students to become immersed in the subject matt er to enhance what they have learned, or will go on to learn, at school. Not only are your students able to bett er visualise and experience the learning topics, but they can also hear from experts to deepen their understanding and hear diff erent perspectives. World views and general knowledge are also expanded along with subject knowledge. Gett ing to know your students bett er and allowing them to get to know you can be one of the most valuable off shoots of such trips. As well as the travel there and back, being in a museum environment allows interaction to take place directly on the subject matt er, as well as more broadly. Students see their teachers engaged in learning and the growth mindset is being modelled. Developing personal connections will create building blocks for future learning, creating bett er motivation for both student and teacher. Relationships among students and between students and staff are strengthened and new bonds formed.

Having experts on hand to guide your group will likely be a godsend, and not just as a chance for passing on the paperwork for a change. Lett ing museum staff lead the learning will provide an opportunity for all to listen to a new knowledgeable voice and experience an alternative teaching style and fresh perspective in a fresh environment. You’ll all learn.

Your teaching practice will likely also benefi t from needing to cater to individual students diff erently, in a diff erent environment. From the practical, hands-on learners that thrive outside the classroom to the academically confi dent kids welcoming the chance to shine, and the less extroverted ones being exposed to new challenges and opportunities for growth, each student can fi nd their place at the museum. Presenting stimuli, oft en with att ractive, tech-focused ways to encourage interaction is what museums do. Information will oft en be presented in ways that even the greatest of teachers will fi nd hard to compete with for their learners’ att ention and won’t want to try! It follows that students are likely to retain more information from an interactive, hi-tech exhibit, for example, than an in-class projector presentation. The informal learning environment of the museum also allows for impromptu learning moments and self-guided experimentation, perfect for those who prefer learning by doing. Whether schools are looking for ways to bett er integrate arts, history, science, technology or sports, museums can provide a deep dive into a subject area like nothing else can. Tailored education programmes for school groups are pedagogyinformed and encourage inquiry and student-led learning in ways that tie into the curriculum, all the while making life easier for school staff and the inevitable parent helpers. And museums’ help extends way beyond the actual subject matt er learning – they are wellversed in helping with the other considerations such as staff -tostudent ratios, catering, transport, and health and safety. They know what goes into planning a school visit to the museum and can take the headache out of it for you—they also know the curriculum well and can off er advice and suggestions for future planning around travelling exhibits and upcoming collections. You may fi nd yourself resourcerich both pre- and post-trip, with museum-curated education programmes now consisting of tools and treasures that stretch beyond the basic photocopied worksheets of old and include digital resources, activities and access to online catalogues. Museum staff are also excellent researchers, who can encourage students to develop their own research skills by exploring online collections as well as the physical exhibits.

Image courtesy of Australian National Maritime Museum

Classroom Games

The Australian National Maritime Museum in Darling Harbour Sydney is Australia’s Museum of the Sea and we’re committ ed to creating memorable experiences that connect people to the past, present and future of the waters that surrounds us.

Our programs support the learning of every Australian and are accessible to those able to visit our museum, as well as those who aren’t. To achieve this we ally with technology and build resources that can be accessed from anywhere in the country or the world. This is particularly true of our ground-breaking online games that cover as diverse topics as transportation, First Nations culture, Cook’s voyages in the Pacifi c and maritime archaeology. We understand that our country has a story that traverses millions of years. We know also that Australia is home to the oldest living culture on the planet and are committ ed to working with Australia’s First People to share their knowledge so we can all bett er understand the continent in which we live.

We know that Australians learn in diff erent ways. Our programs are created by education professionals and give learners the opportunity to use all their senses in exploring our stories and objects. In 2021 the museum launched Wreck Seeker, a ground-breaking free online game that facilitates students learning, refi ning and mastering the skill of historical source analysis through the medium of searching for some of Australia’s best known shipwrecks. 2022 sees some exciting new developments for our museum. The launch of our two ocean science programs that investigate the role of plankton in keeping our oceans healthy, and the challenges that plastics and other pollution bring for their future.

Our Shaped By The Sea permanent exhibition opening mid-year 2022 explores dual narratives in exploring the Deep-Time history of Australia. With the launch of the new curriculum ahead, we are particularly excited about the value this gallery can bring to this exciting new topic. The Australian National Maritime Museum creates educational experiences that investigate, uncover and share our national story. By giving every Australian the opportunity to participate we aim to build understanding, empathy and connection. It is together that we will best be able to meet the challenges and take advantage of the opportunities that lie in our shared future.

At home, in the classroom or at our museum. Award-winning learning experiences covering History, Geography and Science

sea.museum/learn

Melbourne’s fi nest building

The Old Treasury Building is a unique resource for students and teachers. Programs aligned to the Victorian Curriculum discuss various topics including democracy, the gold rush and early Melbourne.

Our excursions, delivered by professional guides, take students from the original gold vaults, designed to hold the precious metal from the 19th century Victorian gold fi elds, to the Executive Council Chamber, where Victorian bills become law.

Along the way they’ll discuss how Melbourne evolved from early sett lement to Marvellous Melbourne, and expose the underbelly of how colonisation impacted the local First Nations peoples. They’ll consider everyday struggles for democratic rights, including women’s rights and the fi ght for First Nations recognition. Students discuss the Ballarat Reform League and infl uence of the Eureka Stockade on Victorian governance. For those studying the 20th century, we examine the conscription debates of WWI, described by some historians as the most bitt er, divisive and violent ever to consume the nation. Propaganda posters available online and in the building illustrate this clearly. Equality was tested during WWII when women entered the workforce, some for the fi rst time, and were required to do, so called, ‘men’s work’ at a lower wage. ‘Women Work for Victory in WWII’ discusses this intriguing time and the roles women played towards the war eff ort and on the home front.

Temporary exhibitions help to fl esh out these stories. Currently, ‘Lost Jobs: The Changing World of Work’ delves into the ways technology, economic shift s and changing social norms have impacted the workforce. ‘Protest Melbourne’ allows students to explore a social issue in a public forum. Issues range from the change the date campaign to climate change. In addition to the Old Treasury Building’s one-hour paid programs, extensively researched articles covering a multitude of topics are available for free online. The minimum number of students in a session is 10, the maximum is 40. Fees apply. Please see our website for details. We hope to welcome you and your students to experience one of Australia’s most beautiful and historic buildings. Visit otb.org.au

Immerse Students in History at the Old Treasury Building

Excursions for History, Civics and Citizenship, Democracy. Level 2 - Level 10 & VCE (National Curriculum)

School tours by appointment only Costs apply

Visit otb.org.au/school-programs or call us on (03) 9651 2233

Experience Your World with WILDERNESS ESCAPE

South Australia ’ s leading Outdoor Education provider for 30 years.

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Four impacts that outdoor education has in the class

Outdoor learning experiences, commonly referred to in school environments as Outdoor Education, are becoming of greater focus within the educational curriculum.

What was once considered a novel form of entertainment in the outdoors to break up the seriousness of the school year has quickly become an important factor within educational success. These days quality Outdoor Educators are expected to be able to create custom outdoor experience that follow yearly curriculum structures, with positive outcomes that provide long-term benefi ts to students and faculty alike. Positive impacts Outdoor Education has on the classroom are wide ranging. Four of the most well documented ones include –1. Increased capability for self-evaluation, self confi dence and ability to tackle real world scenarios.

2. Development of interpersonal relationships, leadership capabilities and abilities to work together to accomplish goals. 3. Positive infl uence on interactions within the classroom.

4. Diminishes the perception of underachievement perceived in the classroom. Wilderness Escape has been running Outdoor Education programs for 30 years and is one of SA's largest and most respected outdoor companies. Our highly qualifi ed Outdoor Educators are happy to talk to you about how we can formulate the best outdoor camp or day program to achieve the above positive results.

For more information or to book your program with Wilderness

Escape Outdoor Adventures today. Call 08 8165 2022 or see www.wildernessescape.com.au

Triceratops: Fate of the Dinosaurs

Triceratops: Fate of the Dinosaurs takes visitors on a 67-million-year journey back to the world where Triceratops lived and examines the impact it continues to have today.

The Triceratops fossil comprises 266 bones weighing over 1000 kgs, including a fully complete 261 kg skull featuring the iconic trio of horns, making Horridus; the Triceratops an 85% complete specimen and the most complete fossil specimen in any Australasian Museum.

The exhibition is split across two levels and is comprised of three acts that immerses students in the world where Triceratops lived and the events that led to their extinction. Students will come face to face with the Triceratops fossil and see up close the impressive frills, jaw and tail, while viewing platforms provide an unparalleled view of the historic fossil.

The three acts are packed with digital projections and 3D displays that are friendly for all age groups and create a sensory experience between light, sound and touch, providing a deep learning experience that will be remembered for years to come.

Melbourne Museum’s commitment to provide unmissable experiences for all audiences is further solidifi ed in a range of educational programs that deliver education content within the museum and beyond its walls. Unique programs developed for various year levels and age groups provide further insights into Triceratops. These programs off er a range of staff -led and self-guided learning experiences connected to the Victorian curriculum.

Staff -led programs allow students to learn about palaeontology and the awe-inspiring science behind how Horridus, the Triceratops remained so fi nely preserved for millions of years. Students will have the opportunity to ask our museum experts about how dinosaurs lived and what impact they continue to have on the world today. Self-led tours allow students and educators to experience Triceratops at their own pace while educational booklets give students a range of activities designed to encourage in development of scientifi c skills.

Triceratops: Fate of the Dinosaurs is an event that can’t be missed. Book in your school group today using the QR code and come face to face with one of the most historic specimens ever displayed in an Australasian Museum.