2007-08 Learning Links

Learning Links is the only museum and archive learning programme funded by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF). In the East Midlands, Learning Links projects offer schools, museums and archives the opportunity to work together to participate in reciprocal CPD placements and develop creative, innovative education projects.

Agenda

  • Every Child Matters
  • Transition
  • Creativity
  • Cross-curricular & e-learning
  • Specialist schools
  • CPD & Skills Development
Pupils display their Tattershall projects

Learning Links in 2007-08

"I've gained increased confidence in using images in the classroom; I've been able to be more cross-curricular. The school has gained resources for local history, geography and literacy - it was good for the children to have outside visitors. I really enjoyed the childrens' involvement in the project and seeing them engage with new learning styles."
- Susan Billington
Inglehurst Junior School, Leicester

How museums and archives can support learning in your school

27 East Midlands schools were involved in the programme this year. Infant, Junior, Primary, Middle and Secondary schools were all involved, working with a diverse range of museums, archives and other partners. The placements and projects produced an equally diverse range of outcomes, depending on partners' CPD needs, curriculum focus, type of museum or archive collection etc.

Short summaries of some of the 2007-08 Learning Links projects are available by clicking on the following links:

Learning Links in 2008-09

"I'm delighted at the amount of interest in e-learning this year, particularly from schools. Hopefully this will mean more museums reap the benefits of working on innovative projects that help children and young people have fun while they're learning."
- Bryony Robins
E-Learning Manager - R.E.M.

Record levels of engagement so far

48 expressions of interest were recieved for the coming year's programme. The scope and scale of applications closely reflects the diverse nature of museums and archives in our region; themes include:

  • Art & Philosophy in school
  • Welcome to Woodhall Spa
  • Remembering the 1918 Armistice
  • 60 years of the NHS
  • Travellers' Lives in the East Midlands

Many of the applications contained a focus on e-learning and close working with secondary schools, both key focus areas for this year's programme.

For your information...

Funding

Learning Links is part of the Strategic Commissioning programme funded by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). Strategic Commissioning is administered in this region by MLA East Midlands.

Other activity

As well as funding education development partnerships between schools, museums and archives, Strategic Commissioning also works with Initial Teacher Training (ITT) providers and funds a national database of school participation. Learning Links has also been used to pilot the Professional Development Workbook, a self-assessment CPD framework for staff and volunteers in museums, libraries and archives.

Links

Other websites that you might find useful:

 
Icon for print imageprintable version