2015 Museums & Galleries Queensland Conference #2015MGQcon

Demystifying the Australian Curriculum  James Abernethy, Venue Supervisor - Redcliffe Museum Justyne Wilson, Venue Supervisor - Pine Rivers Heritage MuseumMoreton Bay Regional Council

The National History Curriculum: How Museums are Motivating the Response to Current Curricular and Educational Demand

The National History CurriculumHow museums in the Moreton Bay Regional Council are responding to current curricular and educational demand

The greatest challenge in developing school programs for a large and varied demand is the ability to tailor effective and differentiated activities that can satisfy all expectations. With the role out of the National History Curriculum, museums have been put front and centre as pivotal stakeholders in supporting school-based learning.

The Challenge

Museums have to face a huge range of schools, with different learning needs, expectations and demands.

The standardization of the curriculum is also a wonderful opportunity for Museums to program to, which we can now use to connect to our own collections and own local stories.

The reality

Pine Rivers Heritage MuseumHistory of Education Program Development

• Initial program• Development phase• Education officer• Resources • Promotion• Administration

Systems• Curriculum

alignment• Staffing and training

Nugget and Nellie

Program Promotion

• Finding your audience• Keeping records• Using records to your advantage (personalised

contact with teachers)• Identifying key inquiry questions and

curriculum objectives

Reading into Statistics

Pivot Tables and Scatterplots

Tracking progress

Pivot Chart: Sum of Participants per School

• Reinvigorating semi-permanent displays

• Network-wide programs

• Continued training and professional development

• Implementing new options with touring exhibitions.

Adding to the Story

A Program in Development – Redcliffe Museum

• Museum background and Initial program

• Development phase• Education officer• Resources • Curriculum

alignment

A Program in Development – Redcliffe Museum

• Higher demand for museum service brought about by National History Curriculum

• Change in demographic and dynamic using the museum program

• Consequence of this changing demographic

2009 2011 2012 2013 2014 20150

500

1000

1500

Yearly Totals

Year ...

2009 2011 2012 2013 2014 20150

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

Student Visitation by Month of Year

Jan FebMar AprMay JunJul AugSep OctNov DecYear Total

* 2015 half year statistics

*

Development of Program

• Consultation with schools and teachers

• Formalisation and standardisation of tour procedures

• Use of consultants to help produce resources

• Continual revision and development of program to maintain relevance

Staffing

• The education program is run by a team of museum volunteers

• The education program is free for students

HAS IT NOW BECOME THE RESPONSIBILITY OF MUSEUMS TO SUPPLY ACTIVITY-BASED LEARNING IN RESPONSE TO CURRENT CURRICULAR NEEDS?

A collective response…

• Regional museum service regional areas• No one else doing it• Standard service museums provide• Need to meet the curriculum for

attendance• Opportunity for numbers

Questions