Learning Links

Learning Links is a reciprocal placement programme that enables teachers and museum and archive staff to work together to develop an educational resource based on the collection. Working in partnership enables both teacher and museum/archive educator to exchange skills and learn about each others working environment.

MLA East of England is pleased to launch Learning Links 5 ICT: reciprocal placement scheme 2008 (May  – December 2008)

We are offering museums and archives the opportunity to explore how ICT, including interactive whiteboards and on-line resources, can help teachers and children to make the most of a museum or archive visit. These placements will build on recent successful models developed around the region including the gallery partnership between e2bn and MLA East Of England at http://gallery.nen.gov.uk/gallery563-.html.

Learning Links 5 ICT will include: ·        

• A workshop offering museum/ archive staff the opportunity to develop an online gallery. They will also explore how images from collections can be used to 'set the scene' for learning with new technologies including interactive whiteboards.
• School visit: Museum/ archive officer joins a lesson: writes 100 words for website case study  
• Teacher plans visit with museum and shares plans with museums, also helps select images for gallery·        
• Pupils participate in museum/ archive learning programmes ·        
• Museum/ archive uploads images onto gallery
• Joint evaluation meeting to review impact on pupils, possibly with LA adviser

A grant of £500 per teacher will enable museums and archive to offer supply cover for up to 3 days. Organisations can apply for up to £1500 if they wish to work with more than one teacher. Some groups of museums may be interested in taking a cross-curricular approach: read about how Cambridgeshire teachers found that museum visits provided inspiration for their literacy plans www.cultureandschoolseast.org.uk/In-the-classroom/ideas-and-plans/literacy 

MLA East Of England is working with County Museum Officers to develop a plan for each county, with their geographical neighbours if appropriate. Heritage Learning Officers are meeting with MLA East Of England on April 23rd so if you are interested in benefiting from this scheme please contact your county team or send an email to info@mlaeastofengland.org.uk headed “Learning Links 5 ICT” as an expression of interest