Hi everyone from a very wet highvelt (a normally very dry part of SA)
A friend of mine who is in a similar situation from me-a trainied
museologist with little chance of museum experience as museums here
don't hire museologists-is looking for ways of creating her own work.
There is a crying need here, where little specialist training for museum
educators exist and where most museum educators are over-worked
with not enough staff or resources, for a way of training teachers on
effectively using museums in education. (Our teachers are also often
untrained) Our education system is going through some essential
transformations and the new curriculum will focus on skills education
rather than the subject-based system of the past. WE beleive that
museums will be very important resources for schools and teachers
struggling with a totally new approach to education. My friend is
considering writing a manual (book) as a resource for teachers on how
to use museums and including work sheets and a programme of lessons
to prepare for and follow up on a museum visit. This we feel will not only
ensure that the students get the most out of a visit to a museum but that
the museum education officer isn't stuck with 300 kids and two bored
and uninformed teachers on a half an hour visit to the museum
inbetween a visit to the electricity plant and the zoo. (a common scenario
and no exageration).

If anybody can help with copies of similar resources prepared
elsewhere or ideas around this issue it would be much appreciated.

Kathryn