Interpretation and Learning: Museums, Galleries and Public Engagement

Course Content:

Museums and galleries are founded and funded on their ability to attract and engage the
public through a broadly conceived educational mission. This can be achieved in many
ways although the exhibition remains a primary platform for communication
notwithstanding opportunities presented by other media.

This module integrates interpretation and learning through the exhibition and introduces
students to a wide range of related theory and practice that coheres within the
exhibition and its experience.

The module empowers students to develop their own research through a combination of
related practice-based assessments, helping them to consider interpretation and learning
within a broadly vocational environment. The module is multi-sited, taking place in
classrooms and museums and galleries, always seeking to locate a student?s research
within wider professional contexts and concerns.

Topics covered may include:
? Museums, galleries and the educational mission
? Learning theory
? Education policy and planning
? The museum experience
? Critical museum visiting
? The poetics and politics of display
? Exhibition design and development
? Social objects
? Digital platforms
? Understanding audiences
? Evaluation

Autumn semester: IMPLEMENTING INTERPRETATION AND LEARNING
? Engaging with museums and galleries. Is it all a learning experience?
? Who are learners?
? Where does learning happen?
? Creating learning experiences
? British Museum visit
? Hard to reach?
? Museum of Childhood visit
? Marketing
? The Value of Evaluation
? Learning project workshop

Spring semester: DEVELOPING AND SUSTAINING MUSEUMS & GALLERIES
? Making space for learning
? Forums, focus groups, co-production and debate
? Visit: Artists in Residence ? South London Gallery
? The purpose of partnerships
? Digital learning and interpretation
? The Soane Museum visit
? Hands off or Hands on?
? Art for all: Issues around intellectual and physical Access
? Victoria and Albert Museum visit

Teaching: Lectures, seminars, screenings, workshops, study groups

Assessment:
STUDY OPTION 1:
? Learning Project Individual presentation (50%)
? Exhibition Concept Plan (50%)
STUDY OPTION 2 OR 3: essay (2,500 words). (tbc)

Study Option 1 = Whole Year
Study Option 2 = Autumn
Study Option 3 = Spring/summer