MC2LE: Museum Learning and Engagement

Module code: MC2LE

Module provider: The Museum of English Rural Life

Credits: 20

Level: Level 2 (Intermediate)

When you'll be taught: Semester 1

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 critically examines the learning role of museums in society. You are introduced to learning theory, programme and event management, while also learning about resource design, evaluation, and visitor research. During the course you will hear from museum-based learning and engagement professionals and observe and evaluate learning resources and events. Interactive lectures, seminars and museum visits encourage you to contextualise and apply learning. Work is assessed through design and planned evaluation of a learning resource, evaluation of an educational event, and an analysis of a museum's learning programme. 

Module learning outcomes

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

1. design a museum learning intervention;
2. evaluate the aims and effectiveness of a museum education event; 
3. identify and apply best practise.

Module content

“Open to the public, accessible and inclusive, museums foster diversity and sustainability” (ICOM museum definition 2022). It is the responsibility of every museum to make collections accessible and relevant to a variety of audiences and stakeholders. Displays are only part of this, an astonishing range of learning events and activities take place in museums. This module introduces you to key museum learning theories. It also outlines the procedures which are central to planning, designing, and evaluating museum learning. It examines audience outreach and targeted programming for core audiences such as families or schools.  

You will be introduced to a range of different models for learning and engagement in museums. They will also explore the role of research and partnership working in reaching new audiences. Professional staff will model museum learning project planning and delivery in a working museum.  

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The module is taught in a working museum and draws on the expertise of professional museum staff. Interactive lectures are used to introduce student to the practical and theoretical concepts which underpin all learning in museums. Seminars will provide the opportunity to develop new skills such as questionnaire design and data analysis, and will also be used to discuss and check progress on coursework tasks. Assignments are based around real world case studies and tasks. Through these assignments students will learn how to design and evaluate programmes, events and resources from a visitor-centred perspective. 
 
This is a 20 credit module, which means that it is intended to occupy you for 200 hours of work. With that in mind the kind of workload you should expect might be as follows: 

• 22 hours: contact hours in formal teaching sessions. 
• 10 hours: evaluating a learning event e.g. liaising with staff, scouting the site, attending the event. 
• 23 hours: external visits. You are expected to visit other museums (virtually or in person) to gather ideas. 
• 15 hours: researching the topic for your design assignment e.g. by auditing the space, talking to staff, finding suitable objects.  
• 70 hours: essential and recommended reading. 
• 60 hours: preparation, writing and editing your assignments. 

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