MA Art Gallery and Museum Studies / Course details

Year of entry: 2025

Course unit details:
Creative Learning: Approaches and Contexts

Course unit fact file
Unit code SALC60502
Credit rating 15
Unit level FHEQ level 7 – master's degree or fourth year of an integrated master's degree
Teaching period(s) Semester 2
Available as a free choice unit? No

Overview

This unit explores learning in the context of cultural organisations and practices. In particular it examines the theory and practice of learning in arts organisations, museums and other heritage sites working with single or multiple art forms or other creative approaches. It looks at the influence of educational theory and government policy on the development and delivery of arts and museum education programmes. Taking a practical approach to the concerns of professionals involved in learning, interpretation, engagement and outreach in the cultural sector it also explores key considerations and strategies for arts/heritage organisations working with educational institutions and within informal learning contexts. These concerns will include issues arising from school curricula, evaluation and assessment, discourses around inclusion and access, innovations in active learning and participation, and ethical issues.

Aims

  • Examine a range of current practices of learning and interpretation in museums, the arts and heritage;
  • Engage with recent policy debates relating to the role of the arts and heritage in education;
  • Introduce and critically evaluate key theories of learning and education which have been particularly influential within recent cultural practice and policy;
  • Offer an insight into methodological, ethical and legal considerations faced by professionals working in different roles on the development, delivery and facilitation of education work in different arts, heritage and educational contexts;
  • Critically engage with debates around access, engagement, inclusion and participation in the context of education work. 

Knowledge and understanding

  • Demonstrate understanding of a range of theories of education and learning and their application within arts and heritage contexts;
  • Show a knowledge of current education methodologies used by practitioners in arts and heritage;
  • Demonstrate understanding of key policy debates relating to arts and heritage education;

Intellectual skills

  • Critically assess learning strategies and methodologies through document analysis and observation;
  • Apply theoretical understanding to project development processes;
  • Engage constructively but critically with the demands of different institutional stakeholders;

Practical skills

  • Develop a creative, well-researched and feasible project proposal;
  • Collaborate effectively with peers and professional colleagues to develop ideas for education work;
  • Use appropriate technology to support the communication of project ideas;

Transferable skills and personal qualities

  • Give constructive critical feedback to peers and professional colleagues;
  • Undertake self-directed research to inform practical work;
  • Apply skills and ideas learned in one institutional context to another, while remaining aware of the complexity of the issues;
  • Work effectively in a multi-disciplinary team;
  • Communicate information and ideas effectively in a professional, as well as an academic, environment;
  • Critically evaluate personal performance through monitoring and analytical reflection;
  • Demonstrate independent learning ability suitable for continuing study and professional development.

Employability skills

Other
- Gain professional insight into curating and related roles - Articulate clearly key debates related to creative learning - Presentation skills - Manage time efficiently - Generate ideas and think laterally - Map career directions and trajectories

Assessment methods

Assessment taskFormative or SummativeLengthWeighting within unit (if relevant)
Critical analysis of education strategy or methodologySummative3000 words100%

 

Feedback methods

Feedback methodFormative or Summative
Critical Review proposalFormative
Academic advisor meetingFormative
TurnitinSummative

 

Recommended reading

Abbs, P. (2003). Against the Flow: Education, the arts and postmodern culture. London: Routledge Falmer.

Addison, N., and Burgess, L. (Eds.) (2003). Issues in Art and Design Teaching. London: Routledge Falmer.

Appleton, J. (ed). (2001). Museums for 'The People?'. London: Institute of Ideas.

Arts Council England. (1992). Drama in Schools. London: Arts Council England. Second edition published in 2003.

Banaji, S., Burn, A and Buckingham, D. (2006). The Rhetorics of Creativity: A Review of the Literature. London: Creative Partnerships, Arts Council England.

Benton, M. (2000). 'Canons Ancient and Modern: the texts we teach'. Educational Review, 52(3), 269-277.

Best, D. (1992). The Rationality of Feeling: Understanding the Arts in Education. London: Falmer Press.

Blackstone, T. (2002) 'A Creative and Cultural Education for the 21st Century'. Education Review Vol 15 (2), pp. 2-9.

Bolton, G. (1984). Drama as Education: An Argument for Placing Drama at the Centre of the Curriculum. London: Longman.

Bresler, L. (Ed.) (2007). International Handbook of Research in Arts Education. Dordrecht: The Netherlands: Springer.

Brinson, P. (1991). Dance as Education: Towards a National Dance Culture. London: Falmer Press.

Caldwell Cook, H. (1917). The Play Way. London: Heinemann.

Central Advisory Council for Education. (1963). Half our future: The Newsom Report. London: HMSO

Chadwick, A and A Stannett (eds). (1995). Museums and the Education of Adults. National Institute of Adult Continuing Education: Leicester.

Chalmers, F. G. (2004). 'Learning From Histories of Art Education: An Overview of Research and Issues' pp. 11-32 in Eisner, E. & Day, M. (Eds.) (2004).

Comerford Boyes, L. & Reid, I. (2005). 'What are the benefits for pupils participating in arts activities?' The view from the research literature'. Research in Education - Manchester, Vol 73 (1), 1-14.

Cox, G. (2007). 'The Teaching and Learning of Music in the Settings of Family, Church and School: Some Historical Perspectives' pp. 67-80 in Bresler, L, (Ed.) (2007).

Craft, A., Jeffrey, B. and Leibling, M. (Eds.) (2001). Creativity in Education. London: Continuum.

Culture, Media and Sport Committee (2004) Sixth Report of Select Committee: Arts Development: Dance (HC 587) http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200304/cmselect/cmcumeds/cmcumeds.htm

Department for Education and Skills (2003) Excellence and Enjoyment: A Strategy for Primary Schools. London: DfES.

Dewey, J. (1934). Art as Experience. New York: Penguin. 2005 edition.

Downing, D., Johnson, F., & Kaur, S. (2003). Saving a Place For the Arts? A Survey of the Arts in Primary Schools in England. Slough: NFER.

Finlay-Johnson, H. (1911). The Dramatic Method of Teaching. London: Blackie.

Fleming, M. (2006) 'Justifying the Arts: Drama and Intercultural Education'. Journal of Aesthetic Education Vol. 40(1), 54-64.

Fleming, M. (2007) The Literary Canon: Implications for The Teaching of Language as Subject. Strasbourg: Council of Europe. http://www.coe.int/T/DG4/Linguistic/Prague_studies07_EN.asp#TopOfPage

Fleming, M. (2008). Arts in Education and Creativity: A Review of the Literature. London: Creative Partnerships.

Gallagher, Kathleen. (2000) Drama Education in the Lives of Girls. Toronto: University of Toronto.

Gallagher, Kathleen. (2006) '(Post)Critical Ethnography in Drama Research'. Research Methodologies for Drama Education. Ed. Judith Ackroyd. Stoke: Trentham.

Gardner, H. (1982). Art, Mind and Brain: A Cognitive Approach to Creativity. New York: Basic Books.

Gillard, D. (2004) 'The Plowden Report', the encyclopaedia of informal education, www.infed.org/schooling/plowden_report.htm

Green, L. (2002) How Popular Musicians Learn: A Way Ahead for Music Education. London:

Study hours

Scheduled activity hours
Seminars 33
Independent study hours
Independent study 117

Teaching staff

Staff member Role
Catherine Roberts Unit coordinator

Additional notes

 

 

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