AT A GLANCE
Name of project
Beamish, The North of England Open Air Museum and York St John University
Provision for learners:
Beamish Open Air Museum recreates life in the North of England in the early 1800s and 1900s. It demonstrates the recent history of the region in a "living" way and provides entertainment and education for visitors of all ages and interests.
Placement students work within the Education Officer and with one of the Education staff, Karen Teasdale.
Model for working with trainees:
This was a formal assessed placement with the setting based mentor responsible for ‘signing off’ QTS Standards achieved during the placement.
ITT PROVIDER
Higher Education Institution:
York St John University
ITE Course:
Primary BA
No. of trainees involved:
2 (per year) within this setting. This project formed part of a wider partnership at York St John University with many other settings other than schools (SOTS). The project has been running for a number of years.
Year group:
Year 2
Logistics:
SOTs placements took place over two weeks in between school placements
Provider motivation:
Experience of settings other than schools
QTS Standards:
Q5, Q6, Q8, Q10, Q24, Q25, Q30, Q32
SETTING
Name of setting:
Beamish, The North of England Open Air Museum
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
For trainee teachers to:
- understand the value of settings other than schools to children, teachers and the public
- work alongside professionals in a setting other than a school
- understand the importance of preparation prior to a visit
ABOUT THE PROJECT
Before the placement began the Education Officer from Beamish attended a training session at York St John University in order to become a mentor during the placement. The students come with a placements file and QTS Standards to be ticked off by the Education Officer. A link-tutor also visits the students during the placement.
The students are given 2 tasks:
- to produce a post-visit workshop for a class;
- to produce a CD-ROM that can be used as a learning tool. The precise content of the CD-ROM is determined by the students - it can be general or focussed.
Last year the students observed the Education Officer leading a specific workshop during the week. At the end of the week they then led the session. Leading the session is optional, depending on the students’ confidence.
OUTCOMES
Learning outcomes:
The Education Officer at Beamish learnt from the training in mentoring which took place prior to the placements. During the placement the Beamish staff gained new ideas and knowledge from the trainee teachers’ regarding what is happening in schools at the moment.
The placements changed the trainees’ attitudes towards museums. They moved away from the view of museums as a place you go after the SATs to museum visits as an integral part of teaching.
KEY SUCCESS FACTORS
- Preparatory meetings between museum staff and the university
- Strong structure
- Flexibility - education staff at Beamish could choose how many students they took in each year. They deliberately opted for only two students so that they could ensure these trainees had a quality experience.
