MC2CCM: Curatorship and Collections Management

Module code: MC2CCM

Module provider: The Museum of English Rural Life

Credits: 20

Level: Level 2 (Intermediate)

When you'll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Dr Rhi Smith, email: r.smith@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 20 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module explores the methods used by museum professionals to store, catalogue, and research objects and communicate their meaning to the general public. This is a practical introduction to researching, cataloguing, interpreting and displaying museum objects. The module is based on work with objects from the University of Reading's collections. You will choose one object from the stores, and will be set assignments requiring them to research and interpret the object. 

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate understanding of the principles of collections management and object analysis and display
2. Apply these principles in researching, cataloguing, and interpreting a specific object
3. Research a stored object using archival resources, other museum objects, and specialist library materials

Module content

Material culture is all around us, yet few people know how to analyse and interpret its meaning to others. This module is a practical introduction to researching, analysing, cataloguing, conserving and interpreting objects. Lectures will introduce you to the relevant museum theory which informs these activities. Using case studies from a range of museums, this module will examine the theoretical, ethical, and practical issues underpinning collections management.  

You will be taught how to analyse different types of artefacts using observational skills, archival resources and basic material culture theory. You will learn to explore the interpretive potential of artefacts and discuss how museums can unlock multiple meanings of everyday objects to engage new audiences. The module will also investigate how practical and ethical concerns may impact on curatorial choices.  

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

This module will be taught in the Museum of English Rural Life. Lectures will introduce theory and practice while seminars will involve practical analysis and research of museum objects. Lectures will be interactive and will include contributions by MERL archive, curatorial, education and conservation staff, who will connect their areas of expertise to wider issues regarding museums. Seminars will provide the opportunity to clarify and interrogate elements of lectures and will also be used to  progress course tasks. Group activities in seminars will develop your interpersonal, research and communication skills. Assignments ask you to apply theory to practice and are designed to engage you in research. 
You will have the opportunity to draw on the expertise of MERL staff while conducting archival research in the Reading Room, museum and store. 

This is a 20-credit module, which means that it is intended to occupy you for 200 hours of work: seminar preparation, background reading, essay reading, writing, and in the case of the undergraduates: revision and sitting the examination. With that in mind the kind of workload you should expect might be as follows: 

• 22 hours Contact hours in formal teaching sessions 
• 18 hours Visiting the MERL and other museums (virtually and in person) to observe different examples of heritage interpretation. 
• 30 hours Researching your object. Specialist staff will be available to assist you with accessing objects, catalogue data, specialist library, and archival material. 
• 40 hours preparation and writing your assignments. 
• 90 hours essential reading  

Study hours

At least 22 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Reassessment

Additional costs