The Learning Museum

The course is fully booked - but please contact Hans Henrik Appel at hha@dkmuseer.dk to be noted on the waiting list.

Please note: This course takes place over 6 days: 22. november 2012 - 23. november 2012, 17. december 2012 - 18. december 2012, and 7.-8. februar 2013. 

What does a truly engaging museum look like? What does it mean for a museum to place learning at the heart of its’ organisation?

The course, The Learning Museum, led by the British/Swedish consultant Emily Johnsson, takes its participants on a journey of discovery by introducing approaches that can transform your museum from ambitious to meaningful, for both audiences and your staff. The Learning Museum focuses on the importance of being driven by a strong vision of the difference we want to make to individuals and society, and guided by real insight about the communities we serve, and want to serve. It encourages participants to ponder a whole range of existential questions on the role of museums and what they offer.

The course will draw on some of the successful aspects of the British self-reflection frameworks Access for All and Inspiring Learning for all, which seek to encourage museums to become more audience focused and inclusive, and introduce participants to the Generic Learning Outcomes, a language for describing the difference museums make, and want to make to people.

As the course seeks to encourage a shift in practice, participants will choose an area of their offer on which they would like to try out the new approaches, during their learning journey. Participants are strongly encouraged to involve and share their ongoing experiences with their colleagues ‘at home’.

The Learning Museum consists of three, 2-day, interrelated workshops.

November 2012

In our first meeting, participants will be introduced to the concepts of outcome driven, insight guided theory and practice. The difference between outputs and outcomes will be explored and the Generic Learning Outcomes applied to participants’ own, chosen case studies (e.g. exhibits, events, web resources, learning programs etc). We will discuss the importance of making reflection (evaluation) a daily practice and used as a strategic tool. We will practise this by learning to pose strategic questions relating to our desired outcomes.

December 2012

During the second workshop, participants will learn about how to engage audiences and potential audiences in ongoing dialogue. We will try out a range of creative reflection methods, and also learn about how to run a focus group and develop a questionnaire. The participants will be guided in choosing the best method of user involvement for their different cases.

In between the second and third workshop, the participants will recruit and engage audiences at home using their chosen methods, and summarise their results.

February 2013

The third, and final, 2 -day workshop will focus on how to transform results from audience consultation into insight and action plans. In light of insight gleaned and the difference we want to make, how can projects and targets be adjusted to ensure that the overall vision of the engaging, Learning Museum, is fulfilled to a greater extent?

Kurset vil blive afholdt på engelsk men med mulighed for at stille spørgsmål på dansk og bruge dansk i workshoparbejdet.

Kurset kan afholdes til denne lave pris, takket være ekstraordinær støtte fra Kulturstyrelsens formidlingspulje.

About Emily Johnsson

Emily Johnsson is an independent consultant, researcher and coach, who has been involved in the strategic development of the Cultural Sector in the UK for 10 years. She has worked with numerous museums across the UK and was the former Museums Libraries Archives trainer in Inspiring Learning for All and the Generic Learning Outcomes. Since 2007, she has worked with cultural departments in Sweden to enhance access and inclusion, and currently trains professionals across Sweden in what she calls, outcom- driven, insight-guided practice.