Browsing by Author "Utriainen, Marttiina"

Aim. The purpose of this study was to examine learning in the museum and the use of museum services in supporting teaching and learning from class teachers' and museum educators' point of view. The study introduces ways to develop schools' and museums' cooperation as well as museum services for schools. The background of the study is in the renewed core curriculum for basic education and in the role of museum learning. The new curriculum will be implemented in schools starting Autumn 2016. Methods. The study was conducted as a qualitative research. Five class teachers and five museum educators took part in the study. The research data was collected by using individual theme interviews in Helsinki during Spring 2014 and 2015. Data from the interviews was analysed by using qualitative content-based analysis. Results. Class teachers and museum educators evaluate museum as an important resource for teaching and learning. Museum as a learning environment is versatile and supports school learning in many ways. Museum services were evaluated as mainly positive. Instead the quality of guided museum tours was evaluated as variable. Additionally teachers were looking for better practical teaching materials. Schools' and museums' cooperation was considered good from both teachers' and museum educators' point of views. Museum educators considered that cooperation could be utilized in more versatile ways. Defining museum services for schools more clearly can encourage more teachers to utilize them in teaching and learning. With the help of more goal orientated cooperation, it is possible to improve the dialogue between schools and museums as well as to develop museum services to meet school's needs better.