The many ways an experience at a cultural organisation, eg a museum, gallery, zoo or botanic garden can connect your classroom learning and assessment program to the wider community
The learning outcomes you want your students to achieve—both on the day and after the event.
2. Discuss
Your needs and learning program with an education coordinator at the organisation prior to booking. Most events can be adapted to meet your requirements.
3. Book ahead
To guarantee access to displays, special events and prices (as appropriate)
To ensure the venue knows you are onsite
To maximise learning opportunities available on the day.
4. Prepare
Yourself
Visit the organisation or its website
Read, adapt and use any supplied learning resources
Clarify any questions you have with the education officer or coordinator
Refer to your school guidelines for excursions
Refer to the SA Teaching for Effective Learning (TfEL) framework 1.4, 4.2 and 4.3.
Your students
Determine what prior knowledge and skills your students have that are relevant to the visit
Decide what intentional teaching you need to undertake to prepare and orientate your students for the visit e.g. content knowledge, site protocols such as audience behaviour or team skills
Think about how you can support students to personalise the experience
Include students in planning the experience and determining behavioural expectations.
5. Accompanying adults
The many ways an experience at a cultural organisation, eg a museum, gallery, zoo or botanic garden can connect your classroom learning and assessment program to the wider community
The learning outcomes you want your students to achieve—both on the day and after the event.
6. Stay safe in a public place
Book in advance
Understand your duty of care as a supervising teacher
Adhere to the required ratio of students to adults
Note in your risk assessment that all of the organisations you might visit have public liability insurance and staff trained in first aid and emergency evacuation procedures. All state government employees have undertaken a criminal history screening in accordance with the respective agency’s policy and guidelines.
7. Debrief and reflect
Use any supplied follow up learning resources
Allow students to share, apply and assess their learning.
