Heritage Malta co-organizes courses for educators

Following last year’s success, Heritage Malta organized two in-service courses for educators exploring inclusion in museums and project-based learning.

Both courses were held between the 8^th and 10^th of July 2013 at the Inquisitor’s Palace and the Malta Maritime Museum. The first course, entitled Making Museums more Inclusive, was organized by the Student Services Department of the Directorate for Educational Services in collaboration with Heritage Malta. Apart from teachers, it was also open on a voluntary basis for Learning Support Assistants, Inclusion Coordinators and Heritage Malta officials involved in education programmes.

The aim of this course was to encourage a dynamic exchange of views among the stakeholders involved in the education of students with disabilities, and to establish a way forward on the best presentation of working material as part of the students’ educational formation.

The participants’ exercise will help in the creation and implementation of educational material by Heritage Malta, to enhance museum education and maximize the value of the educational visits. Another objective of the course was to create a network between Heritage Malta and educators for a successful inclusion process within museums, while stimulating innovative ideas on giving the best experience to students in those museums/sites with limited accessibility.

The second course, entitled Project-Based Learning within Art Education, was held at the Ħagar Qim Archaeological Park. It was aimed at art peripatetic teachers and organized by the Curriculum Centre Annex of the Directorate for Quality and Standards in Education in collaboration with Heritage Malta.

The participants had the opportunity to create, learn and research within a working group, whilst actuating project plans for schools from their own artistic experiences. This will assist them in understanding the importance of collaboration, communication and critical thinking and realize that in every art teacher dwells an Artist, a Researcher and a Reflective Teacher.

For more information regarding educational initiatives organized by Heritage Malta one may send an email to education@heritagemalta.org or follow the official page on Facebook.