Case StudyWe worked in partnership withWarren Comprehensive School aspart of the DfES ICT Testbed project.The pilot project concentrated onGCSE, AS and A2 levels, i.e. 16–18year olds.

Themes were chosen according tothe syllabus. These were ‘Conflict inPaintings’, ‘Portraits’ and ‘On theSurface’, an investigation of textilesin the Gallery paintings.

Months of preparation by the schooland the Gallery went into devising theindividually tailored programmes.

The Warren students also benefitedfrom practical art sessions at theGallery. For example the DiGIT‘Portraits’ investigation was followedup by life drawing in the Gallery art studio. This supplemented andconsiderably enriched the experience.

What did we learn?Both the Gallery and the school were impressed by the intenseconcentration and focus of thepupils when using the palmtopcomputers. The total engagementof those of all abilities during thepilot programme was repeatedlymentioned in all the teachers’evaluations.

Three methods of communicationhave been achieved during the onegallery visit.

With an introductory tour followedby the DiGIT sessions, pupils haveboth read and listened to informationabout the pictures, and articulatedtheir responses via both oral andwritten communication.

Drawing activities led by the handheldcomputers and our teachersprovide another way of engagingwith the paintings.

For the pupils, the handheldcomputers provided an importantbridge to the Collection – manyteenagers are more familiar withInternet technology and handhelddevices than they are with fine art galleries.

The FutureBased on the solid experience of ourone year pilot project, Dulwich PictureGallery is extending DIGIT.

A two year partnership project withSmartzone Excellence in CitiesAction Zone (EiCAZ), will trial DIGITwith Southwark primary schoolsbeginning in September 2004.

During Phase 1, we will work closelywith 4 selected schools to develop acomplete set of Key Stage Two digitalworksheets, carry out DiGIT INSETdays and pilot a variety of follow upactivities and projects.

The programme will be opened up tothe remaining schools in the zone duringPhase 2 and these will benefit fromthe experience gained in phase one.

DIGIT is an innovatory learningprogramme which has inspired theinterest of many.

This is a potent new way of learningthat could shape museum educationof the future. DiGIT paves the wayfor using ICT creatively.

For more information visitwww.dulwichpicturegallery.org.ukwww.streetaccess.co.uk

Dulwich Picture Gallery is anindependent charity and receives no central Government funding.

‘You never would have got that much work out of me ifI hadn’t had this.’Warren Comprehensive School A2 level student

‘A Technical Revolution in Sir John Soane’sGallery’

The Sackler Centre for Arts Education

DiGITDigital Gallery Interactive Teaching

Looking at the future: DulwichPicture Gallery pioneers a newway of learning

What is DiGIT?DiGIT is an interactive learning experience that is unique to Dulwich Picture Gallery.

Using handheld palmtop computers, the latestwireless technology and StreetAccess software,the Gallery is introduced to the user in acompletely and exciting new way.

What makes DiGIT unique is the use of thiscutting edge technology for interactive learningand research in an Old Master gallery.

DiGITGallery School

Home

DiGIT DiGIT

How DiGIT worksThe digital learning activities aredesigned by Dulwich PictureGallery in conjunction with schoolteachers. They take the form ofinteractive worksheets, which askin-depth questions about the pictures.

The responses are entered as typedtext or multiple-choice answers.All responses entered by the pupilare then saved in the learner’s ownweb-based file for extended workin school or at home.

As the programme is web-based,there are no boundaries dictatingwhere the work can be continued or what direction it can take.

Interaction:School and GalleryThe DiGIT co-ordinator works closelywith school teachers to modify existinglearning programmes and to createnew interactive worksheets to caterfor each school’s individual needs.

The school teachers can adapt theexperience for the class. For example,individual children can have accessto extra web pages. These can bedeveloped for children with learningdifficulties who need additionalsupport. Those who wish to raceahead can be challenged andstimulated with further investigations.

The Dulwich Picture Gallery DiGITco-ordinator advises on follow-upactivities which combine Art withInformation and CommunicationTechnology (ICT). This embeds theGallery visit within the scheme ofwork as well as offering opportunitiesto use ICT creatively.

The DiGIT experience

Pupil

PreviewPrior to the Gallery visit, the pupilpreviews the learning trail at home orat school on any computer connectedto the Internet. This preparationoutlines the purpose of the visitand introduces the capabilities ofthe software.

The DiGIT Experience

Gallery VisitThe group is welcomed and introducedto the Gallery environment andbuilding inside and out by a Galleryteacher. They find out why DulwichPicture Gallery is such a specialplace. Following this, the DiGIT co-ordinator introduces the palmtopcomputers and how to use them inthe Gallery space. Pupils can askany questions before they embark ontheir individual journeys led by theDiGIT programme.

Using DiGITPupils explore the recommendedpaintings individually, led by thetailor-made programme.

Each programme has been createdespecially for a particular group bythe teacher and Gallery co-ordinator.

Pupils have personal control over howthe pictures are investigated. Theycan choose which pictures or themesto study in the Gallery within theirspecific investigation, responding to the specially made questions andsketching activities.

As they become familiar with thecollection, they can return to apainting and update their responses.

All work is immediately saved and isaccessible on any computer – atschool, at home, in a public library or Internet café.

Follow UpActivities can be continued back at school or home. The programmeallows additional information andprompts to be added in the Reviewsection.

Reviewing the work, pupils areasked further questions to stimulatedeeper interest in the paintings.

This programmes realises thepotential of the Internet and providesa structure for developing researchskills and extending knowledge.

In the pilot project, follow up workincluded Powerpoint presentationsto the class about an artist featuredin DiGIT. Digital videos of thesewere taken and included in theirfinal exam assessment. Theteacher was highly impressed bytheir increased confidence indiscussing Old Master paintingsfollowing the DiGIT experience.

This is a student’s final A2 levelportfolio showing his follow-up workfrom the Gallery visit. The sketcheswere developed from those suggestedby the DiGIT programme in the Gallery.Further background information wasgathered from Internet links posedby DiGIT.