Open Forum

Hello,

I am requesting any feedback or museums that offer traveling educational programs for schools. 

What do teachers enjoy about this type of on-site programming? Do museums schedule multiple visits in one day at one school? Are there museums that offer programs for large groups, i.e. assembly-type programs? 

So many teachers struggle to take their students on field trips due to bus scheduling or time constraints. The San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles is researching the advantages and disadvantages of developing a mobile program. Any information is greatly appreciated. 

Thank you,

------------------------------
Elizabeth Wilson
Manager of Museum Education
San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles
San Jose CA
------------------------------

Hi Elizabeth,

I work with the Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah (DAI) in Kuwait and we started DAI in the Classroom last year.  Many of our schools are too far away to visit the museum on a school day, so we decided to bring a small taste of the experience to the kids.

Working in cooperation with teachers, members of the education team and specially trained volunteers (many retired teachers) go to schools and implement a programme that uses storytelling, objects from The al-Sabah Collection and relevant contemporary objects to explore one of three themes: identity, critical thinking and storytelling.  The classroom teacher selects the theme that best suits his/her class and briefs a member of the education team on how, if at all, the chosen theme relates to current activities in the classroom. 

It's funny that you've got a quilt collection, because we actually use quilts for the storytelling theme.  We selected objects from Splendor of the Ancient East: Antiquities in The al-Sabah Collection exhibition that are easy for the kids to look at and create a story. A Bronze Age gold cylinder seal with lots of animals, a man-headed bull, and a mother earth type inscribed is one we use.  We also use a 13th century carpet, an Iron Age plaque, a drinking vessel from the Kalma Kare hoard and a bowl from the Hellenistic period.  To emphasise how objects tell stories, we start with Ann Jonas' book The Quilt or The Keeping Quilt by Patricia Polacco.  We also created small (to fit in the Magic Museum Box) quilts using fabrics that the kids recognise as "local", like a piece of a Gutra (the scarf the men wear on their heads). Once we get them talking about these stories, we shift to what stories they think the objects are telling and ultimately they write and illustrate their own stories about one of collection pieces.

So far we've only done these with classrooms.  I think the smaller groups allow more interaction and the kids learn more and, just as important, enjoy it more.  We try to do more than one class per day, since we're already there but have found that three classes is ideal.  I don't know how teachers do a whole day . . . they must build up classroom stamina.  I will also say it's difficult changing themes. I had two critical thinking classes, one storytelling class and one identity class one day and my brain was completely fried.

I know the kids have enjoyed the programmes and the feedback from the teachers has been overwhelmingly positive.  Because we have such a diverse set of schools (many of the nationalities living here have set up their own schools), one important suggestion we received was to look more closely at how the themes work in the students' home cultures.  We are doing that better now and can see the difference that it's made, so that may be something to keep in mind for you.

Good luck!

Sue

------------------------------
Susan Day
Education and Communications Consultant
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 06-13-2015 07:43 PM
From: Elizabeth Wilson
Subject: Traveling Edu Programs at Schools

Hello,

I am requesting any feedback or museums that offer traveling educational programs for schools. 

What do teachers enjoy about this type of on-site programming? Do museums schedule multiple visits in one day at one school? Are there museums that offer programs for large groups, i.e. assembly-type programs? 

So many teachers struggle to take their students on field trips due to bus scheduling or time constraints. The San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles is researching the advantages and disadvantages of developing a mobile program. Any information is greatly appreciated. 

Thank you,

------------------------------
Elizabeth Wilson
Manager of Museum Education
San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles
San Jose CA
------------------------------

Hi Elizabeth,

I work with the Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah (DAI) in Kuwait and we started DAI in the Classroom last year.  Many of our schools are too far away to visit the museum on a school day, so we decided to bring a small taste of the experience to the kids.

Working in cooperation with teachers, members of the education team and specially trained volunteers (many retired teachers) go to schools and implement a programme that uses storytelling, objects from The al-Sabah Collection and relevant contemporary objects to explore one of three themes: identity, critical thinking and storytelling.  The classroom teacher selects the theme that best suits his/her class and briefs a member of the education team on how, if at all, the chosen theme relates to current activities in the classroom. 

It's funny that you've got a quilt collection, because we actually use quilts for the storytelling theme.  We selected objects from Splendor of the Ancient East: Antiquities in The al-Sabah Collection exhibition that are easy for the kids to look at and create a story. A Bronze Age gold cylinder seal with lots of animals, a man-headed bull, and a mother earth type inscribed is one we use.  We also use a 13th century carpet, an Iron Age plaque, a drinking vessel from the Kalma Kare hoard and a bowl from the Hellenistic period.  To emphasise how objects tell stories, we start with Ann Jonas' book The Quilt or The Keeping Quilt by Patricia Polacco.  We also created small (to fit in the Magic Museum Box) quilts using fabrics that the kids recognise as "local", like a piece of a Gutra (the scarf the men wear on their heads). Once we get them talking about these stories, we shift to what stories they think the objects are telling and ultimately they write and illustrate their own stories about one of collection pieces.

So far we've only done these with classrooms.  I think the smaller groups allow more interaction and the kids learn more and, just as important, enjoy it more.  We try to do more than one class per day, since we're already there but have found that three classes is ideal.  I don't know how teachers do a whole day . . . they must build up classroom stamina.  I will also say it's difficult changing themes. I had two critical thinking classes, one storytelling class and one identity class one day and my brain was completely fried.

I know the kids have enjoyed the programmes and the feedback from the teachers has been overwhelmingly positive.  Because we have such a diverse set of schools (many of the nationalities living here have set up their own schools), one important suggestion we received was to look more closely at how the themes work in the students' home cultures.  We are doing that better now and can see the difference that it's made, so that may be something to keep in mind for you.

Good luck!

Sue

------------------------------
Susan Day
Education and Communications Consultant
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 06-13-2015 07:43 PM
From: Elizabeth Wilson
Subject: Traveling Edu Programs at Schools

Hello,

I am requesting any feedback or museums that offer traveling educational programs for schools. 

What do teachers enjoy about this type of on-site programming? Do museums schedule multiple visits in one day at one school? Are there museums that offer programs for large groups, i.e. assembly-type programs? 

So many teachers struggle to take their students on field trips due to bus scheduling or time constraints. The San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles is researching the advantages and disadvantages of developing a mobile program. Any information is greatly appreciated. 

Thank you,

------------------------------
Elizabeth Wilson
Manager of Museum Education
San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles
San Jose CA
------------------------------

Hi 

i want cooperate with Dar al Athar Al Islamiyyah and Museum of Islami art in Cairo 

Regards

------------------------------
Abdelrehim Moussa
Curator
Museum of Islamic Art
Cairo
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 06-14-2015 06:52 AM
From: Susan Day
Subject: Traveling Edu Programs at Schools

Hi Elizabeth,

I work with the Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah (DAI) in Kuwait and we started DAI in the Classroom last year.  Many of our schools are too far away to visit the museum on a school day, so we decided to bring a small taste of the experience to the kids.

Working in cooperation with teachers, members of the education team and specially trained volunteers (many retired teachers) go to schools and implement a programme that uses storytelling, objects from The al-Sabah Collection and relevant contemporary objects to explore one of three themes: identity, critical thinking and storytelling.  The classroom teacher selects the theme that best suits his/her class and briefs a member of the education team on how, if at all, the chosen theme relates to current activities in the classroom. 

It's funny that you've got a quilt collection, because we actually use quilts for the storytelling theme.  We selected objects from Splendor of the Ancient East: Antiquities in The al-Sabah Collection exhibition that are easy for the kids to look at and create a story. A Bronze Age gold cylinder seal with lots of animals, a man-headed bull, and a mother earth type inscribed is one we use.  We also use a 13th century carpet, an Iron Age plaque, a drinking vessel from the Kalma Kare hoard and a bowl from the Hellenistic period.  To emphasise how objects tell stories, we start with Ann Jonas' book The Quilt or The Keeping Quilt by Patricia Polacco.  We also created small (to fit in the Magic Museum Box) quilts using fabrics that the kids recognise as "local", like a piece of a Gutra (the scarf the men wear on their heads). Once we get them talking about these stories, we shift to what stories they think the objects are telling and ultimately they write and illustrate their own stories about one of collection pieces.

So far we've only done these with classrooms.  I think the smaller groups allow more interaction and the kids learn more and, just as important, enjoy it more.  We try to do more than one class per day, since we're already there but have found that three classes is ideal.  I don't know how teachers do a whole day . . . they must build up classroom stamina.  I will also say it's difficult changing themes. I had two critical thinking classes, one storytelling class and one identity class one day and my brain was completely fried.

I know the kids have enjoyed the programmes and the feedback from the teachers has been overwhelmingly positive.  Because we have such a diverse set of schools (many of the nationalities living here have set up their own schools), one important suggestion we received was to look more closely at how the themes work in the students' home cultures.  We are doing that better now and can see the difference that it's made, so that may be something to keep in mind for you.

Good luck!

Sue

------------------------------
Susan Day
Education and Communications Consultant
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 06-13-2015 07:43 PM
From: Elizabeth Wilson
Subject: Traveling Edu Programs at Schools

Hello,

I am requesting any feedback or museums that offer traveling educational programs for schools. 

What do teachers enjoy about this type of on-site programming? Do museums schedule multiple visits in one day at one school? Are there museums that offer programs for large groups, i.e. assembly-type programs? 

So many teachers struggle to take their students on field trips due to bus scheduling or time constraints. The San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles is researching the advantages and disadvantages of developing a mobile program. Any information is greatly appreciated. 

Thank you,

------------------------------
Elizabeth Wilson
Manager of Museum Education
San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles
San Jose CA
------------------------------

Hello,

I am requesting any feedback or museums that offer traveling educational programs for schools. 

What do teachers enjoy about this type of on-site programming? Do museums schedule multiple visits in one day at one school? Are there museums that offer programs for large groups, i.e. assembly-type programs? 

So many teachers struggle to take their students on field trips due to bus scheduling or time constraints. The San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles is researching the advantages and disadvantages of developing a mobile program. Any information is greatly appreciated. 

Thank you,

------------------------------
Elizabeth Wilson
Manager of Museum Education
San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles
San Jose CA
------------------------------

Hello,

I am requesting any feedback or museums that offer traveling educational programs for schools. 

What do teachers enjoy about this type of on-site programming? Do museums schedule multiple visits in one day at one school? Are there museums that offer programs for large groups, i.e. assembly-type programs? 

So many teachers struggle to take their students on field trips due to bus scheduling or time constraints. The San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles is researching the advantages and disadvantages of developing a mobile program. Any information is greatly appreciated. 

Thank you,

------------------------------
Elizabeth Wilson
Manager of Museum Education
San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles
San Jose CA
------------------------------

We do programs in schools. We can present our education trunks, do career days, or make a program to fit the teachers' needs. I have done individual classes (usually in the middle school and high school) as well as combine several classes together (elementary schools). Sometimes I have done a whole grade together. I don't like doing that but sometimes that is what the school asks because of time constraints. These are popular because this offers a field trip without having to get a bus and such. We also have received many visitors to the museum because the children go home after a school program and want to visit. Sometimes these museum visits are immediate and sometimes they are months later. Anyway, our school programs are quite successful.

------------------------------
Troy Gray
Program Coordinator
Bell County Museum
Belton TX
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 06-13-2015 07:43 PM
From: Elizabeth Wilson
Subject: Traveling Edu Programs at Schools

Hello,

I am requesting any feedback or museums that offer traveling educational programs for schools. 

What do teachers enjoy about this type of on-site programming? Do museums schedule multiple visits in one day at one school? Are there museums that offer programs for large groups, i.e. assembly-type programs? 

So many teachers struggle to take their students on field trips due to bus scheduling or time constraints. The San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles is researching the advantages and disadvantages of developing a mobile program. Any information is greatly appreciated. 

Thank you,

------------------------------
Elizabeth Wilson
Manager of Museum Education
San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles
San Jose CA
------------------------------