Sian's Assignment

Sian’s Assignment: Learning In Other Contexts

                Every young person should experience the world outside of the classroom as a vital contribution to learning and growing up. Learning in other contexts, outside of the classroom can be the most memorable experiences of a child’s education and can be an outstanding memory throughout an individual’s life – (Learning outside the classroom manifesto). Sue Waite (2011) cited that “nature and community can contribute to children’s lives now and in the future” – (Waite, S 2011) There are a many places in which children can receive an education other than in the classroom for example Techniquest Cardiff and the Egyptian centre Swansea.

                Techniquest Cardiff was established in 1986, it is a place of learning for children of all ages. It is mainly based around Science and has now expanded to more than 120 exhibits which is a big comparison to when they first opened when they only had 48. The exhibitions are all on show for the children to all engage with and understand to gain more knowledge on the sciences. Techniquest also offers shows and programmes and has a science theatre, planetarium and a discovery centre for everyone to indulge in and take full advantage of. It is a place where children learn without realising because at the same time their having fun, this makes it memorable for all individuals. Even adults can learn new things at Techniquest experiencing new exhibitions. Techniquest allows children to be hands on and enables the mind to explore using models and materials and not learning from books. It motivates and encourages children towards science and question how science works. Techniquest have aimed to make science related areas fun for children to learn such as maths, engineering and technology. Techniquest offers many opportunities every day for all primary and secondary schools to arrange trips to visit the learning centre, many of the trips can be themed trips on a range of topics.

                                            

Above is an image of just one of the exhibitions showing the flow of electricity, that you can find at Techniquest Cardiff.

The Egypt Centre Swansea is another place of learning outside of the classroom for young individuals. They concentrate on three main functions, the first is Preservation of the collection, the second is Education and the third is widening participation. The Egypt Centre consists of two rooms, the house of life and the house of death. The house of life shows the day to day life of Egyptians such as what they wore and their culture and the house of death offers tombs and explanations of mummification and the god’s that they worship however there are no human mummies on display at the centre. The Egypt centre also offers school trips for all ages to gain knowledge on the culture, norms and values of Egyptians, like Techniquest they also have themed workshops and activities that allows children to be hands on with the exhibits and lets them ask questions and find out how people and places are linked together. It gives individuals a chance to explore and appreciate different cultures.

                                     

References

Learning outside the classroom manifesto. Nottingham: DfES publications

Waite, S,. 2011. Children learning outside the classroom: from birth to eleven. London; Sage