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Research into Museum Learning
The Research Centre for Museums and Galleries (RCMG) at Leicester University undertook a study to focus on the learning outcomes of school visits to museums.
- Over 1,000 teachers and over 20,000 pupils gave their views on museums.
- Museums are seen by pupils of all ages as good places to learn in a different way from school.
- Teachers see museums as places where the enjoyment and inspiration experienced by their pupils acts as a pathway to learning.
- To assess visitor learning (including that of pupils) RCMG developed the framework of the
Generic Learning Outcomes (GLOs):
- Knowledge and understanding
- Skills
- Attitudes and values
- Activity, behaviour and progression
- Enjoyment, inspiration and creativity
Museums can:
- help teachers to deliver the National Curriculum targets by basing learning on objects, sites and activities
- help teachers to deliver parts of the Curriculum such as Citizenship and Creativity
- bring classroom teaching alive and access culture and heritage
- help teachers to provide for cross-curricular work
- offer enjoyable, positive experiences for children of all ages and abilities in an environment where all children feel they can contribute
Museums hold collections unique to the area around local schools and can also enhance the National Curriculum and reach beyond it by offering pupils a holistic learning experience which provides unique experiences and insights, the opportunity to see and handle real objects and the opportunity to experience primary sources.
Those pupils who find classroom learning difficult are able to access ideas and emotions in non-verbal ways in museums. Children's attainment can be raised, self-esteem can be increased and different learning styles can be catered for.
Useful websites
All the links below will open in a new window. Close that new window to return here. The files below which are PDFs (Portable Document Format) need Adobe Reader (opens in new window) to be viewed.
What did you learn at the museum today? (Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) website. PDF, 5MB).
An executive summary of the report What did you learn at the museum today? Second Study. Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) website. PDF, 2MB).