| Classroom Observation: Question 59: How were the objects
displayed? |
Conclusion: Displays were mainly on drawer units, although a few were on
tables, files and library shelves. Additional display items included: display labels,
books, students' work, posters and other objects from home or school collections. Users
were more likely to display these items than Non-users.
There is much potential to support teachers' displays with pictures, labels and further
information. A display board containing images and text would complement the objects and
cut down on teacher time and effort spent in presenting this information to their
students.
Summary of findings:
These results are based on observations in 26 classrooms.
- · Displays were mainly on drawer units (cabinets), although a few were on tables, files
and library shelves.
- · The average number of displays was higher in user schools than in non-user schools
- · Schools are most likely to display labels, books, students' work, posters and other
objects with the museum artefacts. User schools are much more likely to display these than
non-user schools:
School props:
Users: Non-users:
58% (7) labels
86% 14%
50% (6) books/monitor
83% 17%
42% (5) students work
80% 20%
33% (4) other objects
100%
25% (3) posters
33% 66%
23% (3) cloth
100%
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| Classroom Observation: Question 59: Individual Schools |
Key: A "user" is a school that allude uses the loan service. A
"non-user" is a school that does not currently use the loan service.
1. School A: User: Primary
How were the objects displayed?
- · The frog skeleton was on a low display surface beside 5 soft toy frogs that were
on or around a real log. Above the display on a fixed board was the title "Five
speckled frogs sitting on a log".
- · All the butterfly boxes were given their own space on a low display cabinet.
There was no text with it. The boxes were on their backs or stood upright because of their
depth.
2. School C: User: Primary
How were the objects displayed?
- · In the classroom, two great big teddies had been dressed up in the Edwardian
swimming costumes.
- · The two owls, in separate cases, was outside the classroom in a shared school
area, on top of a drawer unit. The drawer unit was covered with a dark blue cloth and one
of the owls was heightened by a box under the cloth. Between the owls the book "Fly
by Night" was angled to stand upright.
- On the wall there was black sugar paper with a border. Inside there was five pieces
of students' work and a number of labels created by the teacher. These labels have the
following words/phrases: freckled feathers; hooting; glinting; sharp claws; floating;
flapping; sharp shiny eyes; beady eyes; silently swooping; and gently gliding.
3. School G: User: Primary
How were the objects displayed?
- · In the classroom WWII artefacts were displayed attractively in the centre of the
class at different heights, with cloth, text and books.
- · The same was true of the 1930s artefacts in the shared space.
- · The library display covered 2 shelved walls. All of the 2D material from the
loans was displayed there with a number of the WWII artefacts.
4. School H: User: Primary
How were the objects displayed?
The display of objects covered two drawer units. There was no display cloth. Two books
on Egypt were to the left, the sarcophagus was upright in the centre, and the museum
notes, mummified cat and Egyptian necklaces were upright to the right of the display.
Complementing the artefacts and books, the wall behind was covered with the
teacher's own Egyptian posters, Egyptian symbols from the computer (pyramid, pharaoh) and
some Folens' pictures of Egyptian artefacts. Three observational drawings by students as
well as 3 pieces of written work were also part of the wall display to the right of the
board. Two printed signs were above the display: "Ancient Egypt" and
"Learning from objects".
5. School I: User: Primary
How were the objects displayed?
The Brewer's Dray was displayed with examples of barley and hop on top. The Borough of
Reading plaque was displayed with Reading booklets. The Huntley-Palmer tin had other metal
discs, magnets, and an iron filing board next to it. All the artefacts had both general
and specific labels. Children's work and further information were on the wall.
6. School K: User: Primary
How were the objects displayed?
The carved animals were displayed on a unit outside the door to the school hall. These
were usually displayed with students work. The teacher said that he would not put out the
jewellery in such a place as there would be much more of a risk of something going
missing.
7. School L: Non-user: Primary
How were the objects displayed?
This display was quite worrying from the care of objects aspect. Pins were thrust
through boxes, hats and materials. Larger labels and posters were added to the display of
objects.
8. School M: Non-user: Primary
How were the objects displayed?
Two 1930's outfits were hung on hangers on hooks in the wall. A number of poster
images of the 30's surrounded the dresses. There was no explanatory text.
9. School N: Non-user: Primary
How were the objects displayed?
- · In the classroom, the seagull and shells were on a side cabinet with sand-coloured
tissue paper and children's illustrated written work.
- · At the front entrance the puffin was on display with other shells with the pastel
drawings of the shells the class had created earlier in the term.
10. School O: Non-user: Primary
How were the objects displayed?
The kingfisher under perspex was on display by itself without any supporting text,
students' work, or any other complementary objects.
11. School P: Non-user: Primary
How were the objects displayed?
The Hindu gods were displayed with books on Hinduism only.
12. School T: User: Secondary
How were the objects displayed?
A series of tables had been pushed together and covered with red cloth. The objects
and magazines/books were arranged across it - each item was accompanied by a label made by
Julia describing the item or detailing what they would find in a particular journal.
Behind the tables boards were placed that had images from the loans blue-tacked across
them. The displays were not sparse but dense with artefacts and images. A monitor with two
choices of war films was in one area
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