Learning in Other Contexts

Learning in other contexts other than a class room can bring many new opportunities. Giving you the opportunity to explore the history of a place i.e. historic museum, can help you to gain a better understanding in a given subject.

“Learning in different contexts relies on many of the same skills that you’re developing in your academic studies, but applied to new areas of endeavour. Recognising and communicating the transferability of many of these academic skills is a task itself, but one that is still part of the university experience.” (Sheffield University)

As part of an assessment the task was to go and explore the Egypt centre and to talk about how children can learn about Egypt. This had to be presented in groups in a presentation PowerPoint. Choosing the Egypt centre gave me the opportunity to explore something different. Teaming up with two other course members, we set out and visited the Egypt centre to obtain information.

 

When at the centre we found out that it has three core functions. The core functions are:

•         Preservation of the collection
•         Education
•         Widening participation

All of these help to gain an understanding and encourages children to learn through a variety of ways.

•         Preservation of the museum is important because without the collection of artefacts, the museum would not exist. This is a good thing because it allows the children to look at the artefacts that are being preserved to know what different items looked like in the Egyptian times.
•         With education, it is designed so learning for all takes place and ensures that the collection is suitable for all ages and abilities to get involved. Including teaching, learning and research also helps you acquire skills and inspiration.
•         Education in the Egypt Centre also relates to staff and volunteer training but is also good for personal development because it gets everybody involved which can encourage people to become interested in a given task.

Whilst at the Egypt Centre we discovered that it welcomes individuals, school parties and organised group visits of all ages and abilities. They also do themed workshops and activities for children and adults throughout the year.

It is good from an educational perspective because it has a good sense of history. Also it gives a different way of learning which is exciting and interesting and the staff and volunteers offer information and give you an insight to the collection and Egyptian life.

Having opportunities like this to go and gain an understanding of a certain subject makes learning more interesting and fun. Giving children an opportunity to go and leave the class room to go on trips to places such as museums will gain their attention because it is something different and it engages them in learning, because it is exciting.


Sources

http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/studentskills/tash/learning/contexts/index