We started the day identifying what makes a successful teacher/facilitator. Conclusion: if I'm going to be a successful teacher I need to be inclusive to every student in my classroom (among other skills)... as I struggle to hear the discussions on the other end of the line I'm struck at the fact that I'm not feeling included at all! I don't have access to see my classmates, I can't see the power point or the videos being shown in the room and am left imaging all of the activities (for the record I have a bit of a Futurama vibe going #edutainment anyone?).
(tactile & auditory museum participation)But where does this leave me as a learner? (especially one who should be learning how to teach). As a stew on my situation with my eyes closed, as one does at 5 am when they only hear buzz noise during "small group discussions," I start to think about all the types of learning I've participated in and what's made it effective or ineffective. I've concluded that I am not going to get out of this session the skills to be an effective teacher, either in class or online.... or am I?
The facilitator turned on a video for the class to analyse. I, of course, didn't have access to this so I had to imagine the subtext and subcontext being presented. Shockingly (insert scarcastic voice) I started to loose interest in a video... mostly because videos are meant to be SEEN!!!... and started jotting down notes that will make me an effective teacher when trying to accommodate students who may not have access to sights or sounds. How can I include them in my lectures? Small groups? Study sessions?
(my view for the last 2 hrs)More than that, as a museum professional, how can I include these learners in museum programs?
Did you make that jump with me??? (Formal learning to informal learning)
Museum programs are nothing more than informal educational settings. They bring together people who are seeking shared knowledge or experience. But not everyone who walks through a museum's front door can participate in the learning experience on the same level as the, dare I say, average participant. As I think about museums, and my experiences learning about them and working in them I am reminded that many museum are now trying to make their galleries and programs multi-sensory, you know appealing to all sense...
But what about people like me... learners who can't access a sensory experience? Will they achieve the same learning outcomes?? In some cases I would say no. Using today's example, I can't see and I can barely hear what's happening in class, and so, I'm not going to walk away with strategies to be an effective teacher. However, I'm going to walk away with ideas on what is NOT effective, and I'm sure I'm going to be more mindful of how those who can't (physically) participate feel during participatory activities in both formal and informal settings. In away I'm going to get as much out of my struggle to participate as my classmates are going to get out of their experience in participation.
(visual based museum participation)However, this all still leaves me with the observation that we, as educators, need to be inclusive to all those we offer and accept into our programs (as I've typed this out I've thought of all the opportunities the university had to say no to my participation or work to create a unique yet equal experience for any distance student that would need this training, but I digress...). Museums are a unique model for other educational institutions to use when developing alternative teaching methods and programs, no? Museums have successfully integrated technology, tactile, auditory and visual learning to generate specific learning outcomes for their visitors. Perhaps we shouldn't be sitting in a classroom to learn how to be effective teachers, but rather engaging with museum professionals to learn how they engage their students in acquiring knowledge.
So how do we change our ideas about knowledge presentation to be inclusive to those who need assistance? Can museums help facilitate alternative learning in the classroom?.... I'm still mid lecture so I'm sure this discussion in my head will continue as my day continues... feel free to comment and help me develop to become an effective teacher to both in class and online students!
