Learning & Loans

Conclusion: 24 out of 25 teachers responded to this question with 42% (10) negative messages; 29% (7) positive messages; 13% (3) combined negative/positive messages and 17% (4) neutral comments.

Of the negative and combined messages, 38% (5) referred to limited and old-fashioned notes while 46% (6) referred to the loan boxes being unattractive, dull and uniform. Two teachers (15%) also mentioned the irrelevance of some of the loans that the school was sent.

Positive comments included: "I love the metal boxes - they say "cash!"; "The things are fine - really excellent" and "We are delighted with them."

Quotes relating to positive and negative aspects:
Positive:
1. The packs made me feel the museum was supporting teachers. They make me feel positive towards the museum. Teacher H
2. I like the suitcases, they are fun. Don't get rid of them. They are "museum" and "old-fashioned". I prefer the suitcases to the boxes but the exciting things come out of the boxes, like the models. The suitcases with their boxes and string make you think you must be careful and mustn't get the objects dirty. The boxes are sturdy and give the impression that you can put the objects out and not worry about them. Teacher K
3. The things are fine - really excellent. The boxes are stored away so they don't matter. Teacher N
4. When the objects are taken out of the boxes the children see that they are precious and valuable - especially if they are encased. It sends messages of: "Look after", "Revered", and "Awe and wonder". Teacher R
5. Good - safe with kids - all objects well displayed and easily visible. Teacher U
6. We are delighted with them. We like the fact that two of them are under perspex as we can be certain they will go back in the same condition in which they came. The other loans I hope will be OK. Teacher W
7. Positive. Teacher P

Positive and Negative:
1. I'm very excited by the objects. The objects are put together well. Although the "Schools" box was all over the place. There was not enough information. Potentially, you could tell a child something was Victorian when it wasn't. Teacher B.
2. These ones are brilliant! It wouldn't be half as interesting with pictures. But there have been instances in the past when they were simply not used because they were
irrelevant or not what asked for. Teacher C
3. I love the metal boxes - they say "cash!". The wooden box - I don't know. Maybe a treasure chest would be better. Teacher X

Negative:
1. The information is very old-fashioned. It needs to be "brighter". Teacher A
2. It all seems "old" - the typeface on the loans/notes, for instance. It says "Nothing really changes. We've brought it out the cupboard and sent it off". Teacher D
3. The suitcases tend to be "Oh" (negative sound). There is so much paper until you get to the actual object. With the others in the boxes it is clear. Teacher E
4. They are not very attractive - the boxes. It is a safe way of transporting the objects but not attractive. The notes are old. The objects are excellent although it depends on what you get. Teacher G
5. There was just too much this time. Also we wanted "local" objects. Reading is too far away although we were able to make the link with our own church from the Abbey artefacts. We really need something closer to home. Teacher I
6. Heavy. Going into a treasure trove. A fusty dusty feeling when it should be vibrant. Lesley expressed worry about being able to pack it all up in the right bag in the right compartment again. If the boxes labelled the places and bags it would be more helpful. Teacher L
7. You can't please everyone all the time! The only thing I would say is to make the notes easier to access (intellectual) - especially for use in a special school. Teacher Q
8. The new boxes (prints) are impressive. There is a fault with the acetate containers though. When I slotted the laminates back into the folders, the acetate seemed weak. I had to use masking tape on the wall to present them upright. Because the art room is dominated by windows I had to take the prints out of their covers because there was too much reflection. Teacher S
9. Boring looking. Uniform in colour. Nicer to have an outstanding designer logo. Your logo is not too exciting at the moment. As a museum do you want to be associated with dull grey boxes? You want get up and go! Not too brightly coloured though. Teacher T
10. Grey is a bit dull! Teacher V

Neither:
1. Neither positive nor negative - they are what you expected. Teacher F
2. It depends on what is in there - I'm not worried by packaging. Teacher M
3. With the artefacts we have this time, if the teachers had been involved in choosing it would have been different (Kath approved the artefacts). If there was some sort of joint responsibility. Its up to the teachers what they display. Teacher O
4. None. Teacher Y

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.

1. Teacher A: User: Primary
What messages do the loan objects send to you in their design and content?
The information is very old-fashioned. It needs to be "brighter".

2. Teacher B: User: Primary
What messages do the loan objects send to you in their design and content?
I'm very excited by the objects. The objects are put together well. Although the "Schools" box was all over the place. There was not enough information. Potentially, you could tell a child something was Victorian when it wasn't.

3. Teacher C: User: Primary
What messages do the loan objects send to you in their design and content?
These ones are brilliant! It wouldn't be half as interesting with pictures. But there have been instances in the past when they were simply not used because they were irrelevant or not what asked for.

4. Teacher D: User: Primary
What messages do the loan objects send to you in their design and content?
It all seems "old" - the typeface on the loans/notes, for instance. It says "Nothing really changes. We've brought it out the cupboard and sent it off".

5. Teacher E: User: Primary
What messages do the loan objects send to you in their design and content?
The suitcases tend to be "Oh" (negative sound). There is so much paper until you get to the actual object. With the others in the boxes it is clear.

6. Teacher F: User: Primary
What messages do the loan objects send to you in their design and content?
Neither positive nor negative - they are what you expected.

7. Teacher G: User: Primary
What messages do the loan objects send to you in their design and content?
They are not very attractive - the boxes. It is a safe way of transporting the objects but not attractive. The notes are old. The objects are excellent although it depends on what you get.

8. Teacher H: User: Primary
What messages do the loan objects send to you in their design and content?
The packs made me feel the museum was supporting teachers. They make me feel positive towards the museum.

9. Teacher I: User: Primary
What messages do the loan objects send to you in their design and content?
There was just too much this time. Also we wanted "local" objects. Reading is too far away although we were able to make the link with our own church from the Abbey artefacts. We really need something closer to home.

Teacher J was not asked this question.

10. Teacher K: User: Primary
What messages do the loan boxes send to you in their design and content?
I like the suitcases, they are fun. Don't get rid of them. They are "museum" and "old-fashioned". I prefer the suitcases to the boxes but the exciting things come out of the boxes, like the models. The suitcases with their boxes and string make you think you must be careful and mustn't get the objects dirty. The boxes are sturdy and give the impression that you can put the objects out and not worry about them.

11. Teacher L: Non-user: Primary
What messages do the loan boxes send to you in their design and content?
Heavy. Going into a treasure trove. A fusty dusty feeling when it should be vibrant. Lesley expressed worry about being able to pack it all up in the right bag in the right compartment again. If the boxes labelled the places and bags it would be more helpful.

12. Teacher M: Non-user: Primary
What messages do the loan objects send to you in their design and content?
It depends on what is in there - I'm not worried by packaging.

13. Teacher N: Non-user: Primary
What messages do the loan objects send to you in their design and content?
The things are fine - really excellent. The boxes are stored away so they don't matter.

14. Teacher O: Non-user: Primary
What messages do the loan objects send to you in their design and content?
With the artefacts we have this time, if the teachers had been involved in choosing it would have been different (Kath approved the artefacts). If there was some sort of joint responsibility. Its up to the teachers what they display.

15. Teacher P: Non-user: Primary
What messages do the loan objects send to you in their design and content?
Positive

16. Teacher Q: User: Secondary
What messages do the loan objects send to you in their design and content?
You can't please everyone all the time! The only thing I would say is to make the notes easier to access (intellectual) - especially for use in a special school.

17. Teacher R: User: Secondary
What messages do the loan objects send to you in their design and content?
When the objects are taken out of the boxes the children see that they are precious and valuable - especially if they are encased. It sends messages of: "Look after", "Revered", and "Awe and wonder".

18. Teacher S: User: Secondary
What messages do the loan objects send to you in their design and content?
The new boxes (prints) are impressive. There is a fault with the acetate containers though. When I slotted the laminates back into the folders, the acetate seemed weak. I had to use masking tape on the wall to present them upright. Because the art room is dominated by windows I had to take the prints out of their covers because there was too much reflection.

19. Teacher T: User: Secondary
What messages do the loan boxes send to you in their design and content?
Boring looking. Uniform in colour. Nicer to have an outstanding designer logo. Your logo is not too exciting at the moment. As a museum do you want to be associated with dull grey boxes? You want get up and go! Not too brightly coloured though.

20. Teacher U: User: Secondary
What messages do the loan boxes send to you in their design and content?
Good - safe with kids - all objects well displayed and easily visible.

21. Teacher V: Non-user: Secondary
What messages do the loan objects send to you in their design and content?
Grey is a bit dull!

22. Teacher W: Non-user: Secondary
What messages do the loan objects send to you in their design and content?
We are delighted with them. We like the fact that two of them are under perspex as we can be certain they will go back in the same condition in which they came. The other loans I hope will be OK.

23. Teacher X: Non-user: Secondary
What messages do the loan objects send to you in their design and content?
I love the metal boxes - they say "cash!". The wooden box - I don't know. Maybe a treasure chest would be better.

24. Teacher Y: Non-user: Secondary
What messages do the loan objects send to you in their design and content? Positive/Negative: None