Loans Research
Loan box - Britain Since 1930
Loans Unlocked: 2000 - 2002 DfES Project Research
The museum recieved funding from the DfES to run a project to investigate the effectiveness of learning from museum objects in the classroom. This piece of research is for anyone who is interested in the value of learning from objects, particularly museum professionals, teachers and students.
The research can be used:
- to create or maintain a quality museum loan service
- to uderstand visitors' needs and responses when learning from objects
- to review an example of evaluation of a museum loan service
- for further analysis
What is here and how can it be investigated?
- Articles can be read to gain an overview of some of the most significant findings about the effectiveness of loan boxes within four published articles. Particular findings are referred to where relevant
- Findings can be dipped into to select summarised information about teacher and student responses to school loans from interviews and classroom observations. Particular raw data is referred to where relevant
- Raw Data can be browsed for individual teacher and student quotes about loans and a detailed description of loan interaction in primary and secondary classroom settings.
Methodology used in the DfES project
The sample
The evaluation took place in 24 primary and secondary Berkshire schools. Central to the evaluation were teacher interviews, classroom observations and student interviews 10 months after the observations. All the data was collected and analysed by Joy McAlpine, the DfES Project Manager. The schools were selected by general advisors from the six unitary authorities of Berkshire. The schools were loan users and non-users from rural and urban areas.
Teacher interviews and focus group
The teacher interviews involved 35 questions to up to 25 teachers from 24 schools. As a pilot group of 5 schools was used to help frame the questions, some of the questions were asked to 20 teachers instead of 25. In addition to interviews, 5 teachers formed a focus group that fed in further insights into the designs of new loan boxes.
Classroom observations
The 26 classroom observations were very much dependent on what the teacher wanted to show. Introductory lessons were the main way in which teachers chose to illustrate the use of loan boxes in the classroom.
Student interviews and questionnaires
24 student interviews were conducted 7 to 10 months after the students had used the loan boxes in the classroom. Four students were selected by the teachers from six of the project's primary schools. These groups included one high ability and one low ability male as well as one high ability and one low ability female. High and low ability were defined by SAT scores in Literacy and Numeracy. Students were interviewed in pairs of the same gender. All interviews were recorded on video for accurate transcription.