Combining the strengths of UMIST andThe Victoria University of Manchester

Values and Worth:

An EBL Approach to Encountering and Constructing Collections in Real and Virtual Worlds

J.Tatlock, S. Lackey, J. Debert

Combining the strengths of UMIST andThe Victoria University of Manchester

Outline

• Importance of Reaching Non-Traditional Students

• Importance of Introducing Minority Disciplines

• The Setting up the Workshop

• The Setting up the Collections

• The Real Workshop

• The Virtual Workshop the GLO (Generative Learning Object)

• Infusing EBL into the GLO

• Our Success?/ Discussion

Combining the strengths of UMIST andThe Victoria University of Manchester

Importance of Reaching Non-Traditional Students

• Goal 5 of the 2015 Goals

• Widening Participation

• Increase Numbers of Home Students from Under-Represented Sections of Society

• The Creation of a Supportive Learning Environment

Combining the strengths of UMIST andThe Victoria University of Manchester

Importance of Introducing Minority Disciplines

• Disciplines not encountered in 14-19 Curriculum

• High Incompletion rates

• Lower Application numbers

• Increasing awareness:

– Reduce incompletion rates

– Increase application numbers

– Interest students who would not

otherwise have considered University

Combining the strengths of UMIST andThe Victoria University of Manchester

The Setting up the Workshop

• 26,000 School children visited the Manchester Museum last year

• 9 Summer Schools are organised Every Year for Over 800 Students

• Over 30,000 School students used the University's outreach, inclusion and school and college liaison activities

Combining the strengths of UMIST andThe Victoria University of Manchester

The Setting up the Workshop

• Determine Audience

– School students 14-19 years

• Determine Aims

– To introduce to University and Minority Disciplines

– To introduce Reflective Learning Style

– To introduce other types of Values and Worth

Combining the strengths of UMIST andThe Victoria University of Manchester

The Setting up the Workshop

• Desired Outcomes– Greater awareness of information biases

– Generate interest in University and Minority Disciplines

– Develop a reusable learning object

– Develop a template that can be applied to any collection

Combining the strengths of UMIST andThe Victoria University of Manchester

The Setting up the Workshop

• Outcomes for the Student• Objects are described in different ways by different

people

• Objects mean different things to different people

• Objects may be valued in different ways

• Other things apart from the object contribute to value like ‘context’

• ‘context’ such as where and how an object is displayed, or the source of information about the object

Combining the strengths of UMIST andThe Victoria University of Manchester

The Setting up the Workshop

• University Skill Development• Interpretive skills as experts will give their

‘interpretations’ which are not right or wrong • ‘Information assessment’ decide which you agree

or disagree with and back up reasons for decisions• ‘constructing your argument’ attempt to

persuade others of to your viewpoint, by having a reasons and evidence

• When the ranking is compared with others a ‘scholarly debate’ about the objects can be initiated by the facilitator to reach a consensus

Combining the strengths of UMIST andThe Victoria University of Manchester

The Setting up the Collections

• 5 Objects were selected– Variety of Mediums/ Materials

– Different Ages

– Different Traditional values

• Questions and Activities were Developed

– Could relate to every object and no object in particular

– Questions and Activities were designed to question the students concepts of values and worth without asking directly

– Allow the student to receive as much or as little information about an object

Combining the strengths of UMIST andThe Victoria University of Manchester

The Real Workshop

• Level 1 Introduction– What do you Expect to find in a Museum/ Art Gallery?

– Who do you Expect to find in a Museum/ Art Gallery?

• Level 2 Presentation of 6 Objects– Rank the objects (no information provided)

• Level 3 Introduction of 6 Experts/ People– Select who you want to learn about an object from

• Level 4 Valuation– With new information re-rank the objects

– Did your ranking change? Why?

– What are some other types of Value?

Combining the strengths of UMIST andThe Victoria University of Manchester

The Virtual Workshop the GLO

Combining the strengths of UMIST andThe Victoria University of Manchester

What do you expect to find in a gallery or museum?

Enter six ideas in to ‘Notepad’

Combining the strengths of UMIST andThe Victoria University of Manchester

Here are 6 objects. Using the notepad, rank these objects and say why you chose this order.

Ω

Combining the strengths of UMIST andThe Victoria University of Manchester

Click on an object for more information………………

Ω

Combining the strengths of UMIST andThe Victoria University of Manchester

You may select an information source from those below; click on the icon to hear the information.

Art Historian

Businessman

Alpesh Patel

Dr. Lazz Onyenobi

Archaeologist

Curator

Ω

Combining the strengths of UMIST andThe Victoria University of Manchester

The Curator

Would you like more information about this object or to select a different object?

This sketch was done by Walter Crane, an artist and illustrator working in the nineteenth century. The item has little monetary value, but is of real interest to me as a curator because I can see the notes written by the engraver and it shows a change of title. Both these things tell me about the way the artist had to work very quickly to meet the demands of the public and the publishing industry who loved his illustrations for books. It also reflects Walter Crane’s working practice and indicates not only his prolific output, but his need to earn a living via such commissions.

Ω

Combining the strengths of UMIST andThe Victoria University of Manchester

You may select an information source from those below; click on the icon to hear the information.

Art Historian

Businessman

Alpesh Patel

Dr. Lazz Onyenobi

Archaeologist

Curator

Ω

Combining the strengths of UMIST andThe Victoria University of Manchester

The Curator

Would you like more information about this object or to select a different object?

This sketch was done by Walter Crane, an artist and illustrator working in the nineteenth century. The item has little monetary value, but is of real interest to me as a curator because I can see the notes written by the engraver and it shows a change of title. Both these things tell me about the way the artist had to work very quickly to meet the demands of the public and the publishing industry who loved his illustrations for books. It also reflects Walter Crane’s working practice and indicates not only his prolific output, but his need to earn a living via such commissions.

Ω

Combining the strengths of UMIST andThe Victoria University of Manchester

Click on an object for more information………………

Ω

Combining the strengths of UMIST andThe Victoria University of Manchester

Reviewing choices (1)

Now re-rank the objects and compare to your original list.

Has the order changed?

Combining the strengths of UMIST andThe Victoria University of Manchester

On the Notepad

list the reasons why your ranking has changed (or not changed)

Reviewing Choices (2)

Combining the strengths of UMIST andThe Victoria University of Manchester

Reviewing Choices (3)

Make a note of the sources that you used.

Did you use some more than others? – why do you think you did that? Add the reasons to the Notepad

Which of the sources provided you with the information that helped you to make these decisions

Combining the strengths of UMIST andThe Victoria University of Manchester

Reviewing Choices (4)

How many objects did you find out about? – add this to your notebook

Combining the strengths of UMIST andThe Victoria University of Manchester

Reviewing Choices (4)

Your Choices What you thought

Combining the strengths of UMIST andThe Victoria University of Manchester

Infusing EBL into the GLO

Pros• User directed learning

• Collections interchangeable

• Feedback is generated for the user

Cons• Finite number of information

sources

• Finite number of information sources

Combining the strengths of UMIST andThe Victoria University of Manchester

Our Success?/ Discussion

• How to include more enquiry in the GLO?

• How do we valuate the success of this initiative?

• Suggestions…

• Comments…