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- ABC of working with schools
- museums, schools and learning
- what happens in schools?
- developing services for schools
- developing services to include everyone
- preparing for a school visit
- learning out of school
- making the most of museums
Preparing Museum Staff and Volunteers
It is important that all staff and volunteers are aware of the needs of school groups.
If involved in the school visit, staff and volunteers will need to know:
- the purpose of the visit (including objectives of sessions if appropriate)
- the timetable of the visit
- who will be responsible for different activities
- what their role will be
If involved in communicating with teachers about services to schools staff and volunteers will need to know:
- all the above
- details about all resources for schools, anmd where they are kept, so that they can provide as much information as possible
- how to book resources for schools i.e. what the museum needs to know/what teachers need to know
It would be helpful to provide all this information in a special file.
Training
If this is a new resource or programme it might be helpful to undertake some training of staff and volunteers so that they understand it in more depth. Or if staff and volunteers are new then a planned Induction Programme will be invaluable.
How to Devise a Training Programme
- Assess the knowledge and experience of staff and volunteers.
- Direct staff and volunteers to relevant sections of this website for training purposes.
- Provide staff with a manual which details all the information about services for schools including how to take a booking etc.
- Join the Group for Education in Museums (GEM) or engage (the National Association for Gallery Education).
- Arrange visits to watch sessions in other museums (ask your Museum Development Officer for suggestions).
- Arrange for staff to attend training days, such as those organised by the Group for Education in Museums (GEM) or engage.
- Run a demonstration session at the museum with staff and volunteers as participants.
- Arrange for staff and volunteers to shadow a session that another experienced member of staff delivers.
Downloads
Staff Training - a Personal Perspective (Banbury Museum. Word DOC, 39Kb).
Useful Websites
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Group for Education in Museums
engage the National Association for Gallery Education.