the role of museums in education reform
TRANSCRIPT
The Role of Museums in Education ReformWendy NgManager of LearningRoyal Ontario Museum
Royal Ontario Museum
Toronto
2011 National Household Survey of Toronto population
• 2.6 million people• 49% were immigrants• 51% were born outside of Canada• 49% identified as a “visible minority”• Top three “visible minority” groups: 12% South Asian, 11%
Chinese, and 9% Black• 0.8% identified as Indigenous: 67% First Nations, 25%
Metis, 2% Inuk (Inuit), and 1% multiple Indigenous identities• From 2006-2011, fastest growing age groups:60‐64 and
85+; declining age groups: 5‐14 and 35‐44• 28.2% are between 0‐24 years old
Cultural Attractions in Toronto
• Royal Ontario Museum• Ontario Science Centre• Art Gallery of Ontario• Toronto Zoo• CN Tower• Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art• Bata Shoe Museum• Ripley’s Aquarium• Aga Khan Museum
Ontario
Ontario is big!
Canada
World Cultures and Natural History
Happy 100th Birthday!
Guided Tours led by Staff
Hands-on Labs – Touch “real” objects!
Self-Guided Visits – Support materials
Virtual Visits – Geography is not a barrier!
Travelling Programs – Bring the ROM to you!
Educational Reform by Provincial Government
Full-day Early Learning and Kindergarten Programs
Increase Literacy and Numeracy Rates
Increase high school graduation rates
Digital Technology in Schools
Teacher Professional Learning
Curriculum Revisions
Historical Response to Reform• Revised programs based on curriculum revisions• High school co-operative education placements at
the ROM• Built Digital Gallery and created Virtual Visits to
incorporate digital technology• Formed a Teacher Advisory Committee• Delivered professional learning workshops for
teachers and student teachers• Attended annual conferences of subject
associations• Seconded teachers from school boards to work at
the ROM
Principles Guiding Our Current Response
“Don't limit a child to your own learning, for he was born in another time.” – Rabindranath Tagore
•Relevant and Responsive: 21st century learning, educational reform, Museum collections & research•Student-Centred: Pedagogical approach (constructivism) and teaching methodologies (inquiry-based, anti-oppressive)•Object-Based: What are the strengths of our collection? Leverage our unique curatorial assets•Accountable: Gather input and measure the impact of our programs on students, teachers, staff
Current Response to Reform• Invest in staff professional learning focused
on student-centred pedagogical approaches and teaching methodologies
• Develop new programs focused on key goals of reform (early learners, literacy and numeracy, high school graduation rates) in addition to curriculum revisions
• Incorporate digital technology as a teaching tool in school visits and plan for on-going investment in digital learning (equipment, staffing, virtual visits, online experiences)
Current Response (cont’d)• Develop deeper relationships with
educational stakeholders:
– Re-establish Teacher Advisory Circle to address barriers to visiting, advise on programming and marketing, teacher professional learning
– Work in partnership with teacher unions and subject associations to increase professional capacity of teachers to use museum as a teaching and learning resource
Wendy NgManager of Learning
Royal Ontario Museum
[email protected]/schools
www.facebook.com/royalontariomuseum @ROMtoronto@twin_muses
Tak! Thank you!
Credits• ROM Images• http://www.cbc.ca/news2/interactives/before-after/toronto-condos/images/toronto-skyline-muise-after2012rb.jpg• http://www1.toronto.ca/city_of_toronto/social_development_finance__administration/files/pdf/nhs_backgrounder.pdf• http://www1.toronto.ca/city_of_toronto/social_development_finance__administration/files/pdf/
censusbackgrounder_ageandsex_2011.pdf• http://www.unesco.org/new/en/social-and-human-sciences/themes/fight-against-discrimination/coalition-of-cities/good-
practices/toronto/• http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wtXOLGvWacQ/T5IpWhokGrI/AAAAAAAABRA/6d9o5zSTUyQ/s1600/ontario-regions-map.png• http://www.rainbowtourism.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/map-of-canada-by-Regions_travelgaycanada.jpg• http://www.rom.on.ca/collections/• http://www.rom.on.ca/en/rom-recollects/stories/grade-5-at-the-rom• https://shawglobalnews.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/vote-here.jpg?w=720• http://www.canadianbusiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/kindergarten-class-cc-by-woodleywonderworks.jpg• http://www.eqao.com/categories/home.aspx?Lang=E• http://www.thestar.com/content/dam/thestar/life/parent/2009/03/09/ontarios_high_school_graduation_rate_grows/
graduation.jpeg• http://learningforwardontario.ca/images/img2.jpg• http://i2.wp.com/vipmedia.globalnews.ca/2014/01/math-class-file.jpg?crop=0px%2C10px%2C720px
%2C480px&resize=720%2C480• http://www.boldinternet.com/images/content/work/education_3.png