Communication
Museums Education is the creative application of principles
of object-centred
methods of teaching and learning to the interpretation of the historical and cultural
significance of the collections and to the core functions of the museum-collection,
conservation, research and exhibition.
The Education Department designs, implements and coordinates
the Museums public programmes for each of the public museums and schools, colleges
and organizations islandwide. Our programmes are aimed at educating the public about
the artifacts within the Museum's Collections and the role and functions of the
museum as the repository of material history and heritage of
Jamaica
.
At present the division conducts the following programmes:
·
Summer Workshop
·
Outreach
·
Resources
Summer Workshop
The Museums Division, through
its Education and Outreach department, educates the public about
Jamaica
’s history and heritage through artefacts from the collection.
Education programmes are designed and conducted throughout the Institute’s Museums
and in communities, schools and other organizations islandwide. The Division first
held its first summer programme – the Emancipation Workshop for Young People in
1997 at the
Peoples Museums of Craft & Technology in
Spanish Town
to coincide with the reinstatement of Emancipation as a
national holiday. Since then these workshops have become our largest annual programme
and have been conducted at our museums and other heritage sites across the island
including Montego Bay, Lucea,
Falmouth
and
Kingston
.
At these workshops, under different themes, young participants
learn about Jamaican history during through interaction with the artifacts of the
Institute’s collection, which they are encouraged to express through dance, drama
and art and craft. They are also exposed to modules that teach values and attitudes,
conflict resolution, personal development, the values of that era – hard work, resourcefulness
and cooperation. We especially highlight the vibrant folk traditions and the creativity
and industry of free and indentured Jamaicans in the exciting but difficult period
immediately after Emancipation. In addition, the programme deals with issues like
the defacement and destruction of heritage sites and monuments, crime, visitor harassment
and conflict resolution.