Yorkshire Museums, Libraries & Archives Council

Contexts other than schools

Initial Teacher Trainee Placements in Museums, Libraries and Archives

Jael EdwardsEducation and Lifelong Learning Officer, YMLAC

Hannah GouldProject Officer/ Freelance Consultant

Background

• Role of Yorkshire Museums, Libraries and Archives Council

• The regions museums, libraries and archives

• The changes in QTT Standards

• Existing practices in museums, libraries and archives

Project aims

• To contribute to the investigation and development of new models of training

• To do this by undertaking a feasibility study

Project Objectives

• Identify current research related to R2.5

• Establish a steering group of key regional players

• Establish a method of research

• Select regional organisations with whom to conduct the study

Project Objectives

• Identify the opportunities and challenges for both HEIs and MLAs

• Identify the response of trainees

• Develop potential models for placements

• Establish guidelines for quality assurance of placements

• Identify organisations willing to pilot the models identified

Project Objectives

• Advocate the role of MLAs

• Enrich the classroom teaching of the future

Method of Study

• Identify key questions and issues• Devise surveys• Literature search• Consultation via

•Email•Telephone•Focus groups

• With•22 ITT providers from 10 HEIs•53 museum, library and archive professionals from 51 institutions•20 trainees and ex trainees

Issues raised: ITT Providers• New territory• Lack of knowledge of MLA sector• Lack of MLA learning on ITT courses• Appetite to engage• Benefits for ITT providers and

students• Potential placement activities• Time! • Quality assurance• Parity of experience• OFSTED• MUST meet the QTT Standards

Issues raised: MLAs

• New territory• Lack of knowledge of ITT sector• Appetite to engage• Wide ranging provision to formal

learning sector• Benefits to students and potential

work activities matched ITT responses

• Time!• Training and skills issues• Direction - “What do they want from

us?”

Issues raised: Trainees

• Views divided between those with experience in MLAs and those without

• Skills gained identified by those with experience

• Concerns that MLA placements should not replace teaching experience

• Few had covered museums, libraries and archives on course

• Museum, library or archive placements unlikely to affect employment prospects

Good Practice

• Sheffield Hallam University & Kelham Island Museum

• Sheffield Hallam University and Sheffield Galleries and Museums Trust

• Bradford College & Bradford Galleries & Museums

Models: Activities that can contribute towards achievement of standards• Teaching• Preparing resources• Preparing lessons• Enhancing specialist knowledge• Learning in out of school contexts• Cultural diversity • Ideas, flexibility, creativity,

confidence• NOT just learning how to plan a

school trip • Combination of theory and practice

Quality Assurance

• Quality assurance concerns from both ITTs and MLAs

• Training of MLA staff• Partnership and support• Mapping standards against

potential work activities• YMLAC’s role - enabler

Recommendations

• No ‘one size fits all’ approach• YMLAC to take an enabling role• Information and dissemination• Advocacy• Brokering relationships• Training• Mapping standards• Evaluation• Involvement of partner schools• Link to long term CPD - through

e.g. EBPs• Long-term longitudinal research

Future Developments

• What's next• Further funding• Pilots• Training• Evaluation• Information, dissemination and

advocacy