Learning & Loans

Conclusion: 55% (10) of the 18 observations that did involve handling also included teacher or student comments on correct handling. Secondary observations included more directions for handling than Primary observations. Non-users gave more directions for handling than Users. Similar to the findings from Question 7, these outcomes imply a link between increased experience of loans and a lack of instructions in handling.

Key: A "user" is a school that already uses the loan service. A "non-user" is a school that does not currently use the loan service.

These 10 schools gave some directions for handling:
1. School B: User: Primary
Yes. This was initiated by a student during the introduction: Student: "Be careful"; T: "Yes, we need to preserve them for future generations."

2. School F: User: Primary
Yes. Teacher: "Please don't touch the boxes (large perspex cases). I know the objects are in plastic but don't turn them upside down."

3. School I: User: Primary
Yes. In a large label over the classroom display of the artefacts: "We need to be very careful with them."

4. School K: User: Primary
Yes. Teacher:
"Pass it carefully to someone sitting next to you."
"Don't try and put it on your head."
"Be very careful with the hat."
"Remember, be very, very careful."
"No, you mustn't do that."

5. School M: Non-user: Primary
Yes. Teacher: "We trust you to handle them properly".

6. School Q: User: Secondary
One student is fixated with undoing and doing up the clasp on the print case. The teacher told him to stop: "Will you leave them, Daniel" and later "Please leave the case alone."

7. School W: Non-user: Secondary
Yes. Teacher: "Be very careful. They are very old and very precious. I'm going to bring them round so you can have a look at them."

8. School X: Non-user: Secondary
Yes. Teacher: "You can have a good look at these. Treat them with respect and care. No pulling or tugging or fisti-fights."

9. School Y: Non-user: Secondary
Yes. The teacher and a couple of other teachers helped to give out the objects. The following comments were made by these teachers:
"That is old, look after it."
"You can look, feel, smell, but I wouldn't advise licking!"
"One person from each group bring the object back. If you drop it, it will cost you a million pounds!"

10. School Z: Non-user: Primary
Yes. The teacher said: "Be very careful. Don't break them or they'll tell me off. (To one student who is trying to grab a shoe from another student) Don't snatch off her please!"

These 8 schools gave no directions for handling:
1. School A: User: Primary
2. School C: User: Primary
3. School D: User: Primary
4. School E: User: Primary
5. School G: User: Primary
6. School N: Non-user: Primary
7. School U: User: Secondary
8. School V: Non-user: Secondary

These 8 schools did not demonstrate handling for various reasons:
3 schools had loans under perspex
1. School H: User: Primary
2. School J: User: Primary
3. School L: Non-user: Primary
2 schools did not show handling
1. School O: Non-user: Primary
2. School S: User: Secondary
3 schools did not show a whole lesson
1. School P: Non-user: Primary
2. School R: User: Secondary
3. School T: User: Secondary