Yorkshire Museums, Libraries & Archives Council

1. Contexts other than schools Initial Teacher Trainee Placements in Museums, Libraries and Archives Jael Edwards Education and Lifelong Learning Officer, YMLAC Hannah Gould Project Officer/ Freelance Consultant Yorkshire Museums, Libraries & Archives Council

2. Background • Role of Yorkshire Museums, Libraries and Archives Council • The regions museums, libraries and archives • The changes in QTT Standards • Existing practices in museums, libraries and archives

3. Project aims • To contribute to the investigation and development of new models of training • To do this by undertaking a feasibility study

4. Project Objectives • Identify current research related to R2.5 • Establish a steering group of key regional players • Establish a method of research • Select regional organisations with whom to conduct the study

5. Project Objectives • Identify the opportunities and challenges for both HEIs and MLAs • Identify the response of trainees • Develop potential models for placements • Establish guidelines for quality assurance of placements • Identify organisations willing to pilot the models identified

6. Project Objectives • Advocate the role of MLAs • Enrich the classroom teaching of the future

7. Method of Study • Identify key questions and issues • Devise surveys • Literature search • Consultation via • Email • Telephone • Focus groups • With • 22 ITT providers from 10 HEIs • 53 museum, library and archive professionals from 51 institutions • 20 trainees and ex trainees

8. Issues raised: ITT Providers • New territory • Lack of knowledge of MLA sector • Lack of MLA learning on ITT courses • Appetite to engage • Benefits for ITT providers and students • Potential placement activities • Time! • Quality assurance • Parity of experience • OFSTED • MUST meet the QTT Standards

9. Issues raised: MLAs • New territory • Lack of knowledge of ITT sector • Appetite to engage • Wide ranging provision to formal learning sector • Benefits to students and potential work activities matched ITT responses • Time! • Training and skills issues • Direction - “What do they want from us?”

10. Issues raised: Trainees • Views divided between those with experience in MLAs and those without • Skills gained identified by those with experience • Concerns that MLA placements should not replace teaching experience • Few had covered museums, libraries and archives on course • Museum, library or archive placements unlikely to affect employment prospects

11. Good Practice • Sheffield Hallam University & Kelham Island Museum • Sheffield Hallam University and Sheffield Galleries and Museums Trust • Bradford College & Bradford Galleries & Museums

12. Models: Activities that can contribute towards achievement of standards • Teaching • Preparing resources • Preparing lessons • Enhancing specialist knowledge • Learning in out of school contexts • Cultural diversity • Ideas, flexibility, creativity, confidence • NOT just learning how to plan a school trip • Combination of theory and practice

13. Quality Assurance • Quality assurance concerns from both ITTs and MLAs • Training of MLA staff • Partnership and support • Mapping standards against potential work activities • YMLAC’s role - enabler

14. Recommendations • No ‘one size fits all’ approach • YMLAC to take an enabling role • Information and dissemination • Advocacy • Brokering relationships • Training • Mapping standards • Evaluation • Involvement of partner schools • Link to long term CPD - through e.g. EBPs • Long-term longitudinal research

15. Future Developments • What's next • Further funding • Pilots • Training • Evaluation • Information, dissemination and advocacy