Theme: Teachers: Leading in crisis, reimagining the future
The National Museum recognised its educators in celebration of World Teachers’ Day 2020. The Day is celebrated internationally on 5 October 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on our educators as the schools were mostly closed during lockdown. According to UNESCO, the lockdown directly affected 1.5 billion students at all levels and 63 million primary and secondary teachers. Our educators used the opportunity to provide online educational content to learners as part of Museum’s #VirtualMuseum and #MuseumFromHome campaign.
In the past 5 years, the Education Department reached 219 462 learners. Our educators provide guided tours of the Museum displays and present discussion-style lessons and demonstrations, using objects and PowerPoint presentations. These educational activities are founded on the knowledge and research of Museum scientists and objects in the Museum collections. Furthermore, appropriate resource material is made available to aid teachers and learners.
Annually the Museum hosts the popular holiday programmes. In 2019, 134 learners took part in our “Dinosaur Fun” Holiday Programme, which included a variety of Dinosaur-themed activities, such as “Feeding the dinosaur”. The Education Department presented five Teacher Workshops at Pre-primary schools in the greater Bloemfontein/Mangaung area. The aim was to show teachers how to make visual aids for their classrooms. We profile our 3 educators below:
Ancilia van Staden l HOD: Education l National Museum
My name is Ancilia van Staden and it is a great honour and privilege to be part of the Education Department at the National Museum. As the HOD of the department I am closely involved in developing, organizing and presenting curriculum-based lessons to school learners of all grades throughout the greater Mangaung/Bloemfontein area and the Free State. To enhance the learning experience, we make use of real objects as well as high quality visual aids to make our lessons extra interesting.
We do outreach lessons on demand with our Mobile Museum and we target rural and previously disadvantaged schools, since they are not always in a position to visit us at the Museum.
Throughout the year we present special events, such as Mandela Day, Heritage month, Africa month and International Museum Day celebrations. We also take part in National Science Week and Career Expo’s, to name a few. We offer a variety of exciting and fun-filled activities through our very popular holiday programmes.
Our goal is to make the Museum experience exciting and memorable through our educational programmes and guided tours. Further, we emphasise the importance of Museums to our audiences.
Lebohang Makoae l Education Officer l National Museum
My name is Lebohang Makoae. I am an Education Officer at the National Museum in Bloemfontein. My job at the Museum is to conduct guided tours inside the Museum for school groups and the public visiting the Museum, presenting lessons to school groups and do outreach programmes for schools.
I visit mostly rural and previously disadvantaged schools with our Mobile Museum and other organisations on invitation. I also help with Library outreach programmes and take part in exhibitions during Open Days at universities and colleges and for Career Exhibitions.
Patrys Meyer l Education Officer l National Museum
My name is Patrys Meyer and I am an Education Officer at the Education Department of the National Museum. I present curriculum-based lessons to school groups, do guided tours for schools and visitors, organize and present special events and holiday programmes. Our education team use real objects, visual aids and accurate facts during our curriculum-based presentations. I also present outreach lessons at schools that face financial and transport challenges. I am part of many special events such as teacher workshops, National Science Week, International Museum Day, Career expo’s, Africa Month celebrations and outdoor exhibitions. I enjoy emphasizing the importance of the Museum and its natural history to visitors at the National Museum in an educational and fun way.
#WorldTeachersDay l #VirtualMuseum l #MuseumFromHome
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