AT A GLANCE
This partnership is now in its second year, following a successful first attempt!
All our final year BEd (Hons) students are placed with one of the museum sites along the Derwent Valley World Heritage corridor: Masson Mills, Matlock; Arkwright’s Cromford Mill, Cromford; Belper Mill, Belper and the Derby City Museums including the Silk Mill.
The students are asked to work in collaboration with the site staff to create an education resource to be used by Primary aged children when on a school visit. The resources are trialled by school children and when completed presented to site staff and their peers.
ITT PROVIDER
ITE Course: BEd (Hons) in Primary Education with QTS
No. of trainees involved: 65
Year Group: Final Year students
Logistics: Each site offered a set number of places. The students are placed with the site all year and at different points of the year work in different ways with each other and the site staff to create resources to fit the brief provided. The materials are trialled and evaluated with local schools before the completed resource is given to the site for their own use. The students present their materials to the rest of the year group at the end of the year.
Motivation: For students to work with other professionals in another educational setting; to improve their knowledge and understanding of an important local historical resource that can be utilised with children of all ages
SETTING
Derwent Valley World Heritage Sites In December 2001, the Derwent Valley Mills in Derbyshire became inscribed as a World Heritage Site. This international designation confirms the outstanding importance of the area as the birthplace of the factory system where in the 18th Century water power was successfully harnessed for textile production. Stretching 15 miles down the river valley from Matlock Bath to Derby, the World Heritage Site contains a fascinating series of historic mill complexes, including some of the world's first 'modern' factories.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
The project is part of a double credit module linked to professional collaborative working practices and a further opportunity to develop their understanding of the Primary National Curriculum and the benefits of learning beyond the classroom environment.
As well as providing students with opportunities to enhance their professional knowledge and skills specific to the project focus, the module also offers opportunities for the application and extension of personal transferable skills and capacities, most notably those of problem solving and team working with a variety of professionals beyond school settings.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
There are taught sessions in University exploring reflective practice and action planning alongside information sessions presented the coordinator of the World Heritage Site; Adrian Farmer and developing practice sessions held by Derby City museum staff. Local schools are involved with trialling of the resources and visiting the site with the students and museum staff. At the end of the year all the students present their outcomes formally to their peers and all the World Heristage Site staff.
OUTCOMES
On completion of the module, focusing on the academic outcomes, students are able to:
- Articulate and evaluate the stages in the process of planning and implementation of a professional project.
- Determine and apply appropriate criteria for the success of a professional project.
- Analyse their personal and professional learning and development as a member of a project team.
Professionally the students will have:
ü Collaborated with a range of professionals and developed their understanding of learning and teaching beyond the classroom setting;
ü Worked with a group of children in a setting other than a classroom;
ü Had opportunities to work innovatively and in a cross curricular manner
Museum Staff
Mary Smedley Belper Mill Coordinator
“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank you and the students on behalf of the Belper North Mill Trust for the wonderful resources you have created for us to use. It would be impossible for us to gain the funding for such professional services. We have been most fortunate to be included in this project. Working with schools is the key aim of any museum and this has advanced our education project considerably.”
Student Viewpoints
“A huge development factor personally and professionally.”
“I really enjoyed going to Cromford Mill. I found it really interesting!”
“I thoroughly enjoyed the Collaborative Project, especially the communication with the site staff. It was lovely to see the work and activities that every group produced; they gave me lots of ideas for the future.”
“I appreciated working with a diverse range of individuals.”
“A valuable experience working in an out of school setting; I now understand the importance and benefits of learning beyond the classroom.”
KEY SUCCESS FACTORS
ü Good communication Lines between the museum sites and students and the University facilitators;
ü Clear expectations and boundaries;
ü Shared professional responsibility;
ü The experience was valued by all participants as it was part of the assessed course as well as being relevant for their professional practice
