Marisia - Maros Megyei Múzeum Évkönyve 31/2. (2011)
Museum Pedagogy
The educational project My hero from nature May, the month of the Owl, 258 participants attended the project from 6 educational institutions from Sibiu County (“Octavian Goga” National College from Sibiu, The General School from Orlat Sibiu County, “Gheorghe Lazar” National College from Sibiu, School number 8 from Sibiu, School number 25 from Sibiu, School number 2 from Sibiu). Unfortunately there were only a few teachers who came during the entire educational project because, as they specified, they have difficulties in bringing the children on the streets from the school alone, the general schedule, the hour when she or he was appointed was not satisfactory, other educational projects that were ongoing occupied the space and the weather was also a negative factor. But the outcome of 55 educational activities, over 1000 participants from 11 educational institutions was positive. In general, teachers participated actively even preparing the children at class. Some classes prepared their one presentation of the animals, on cardboard drawing the animals and writing information related to the description, habitat and habits of the animals. They had to present these cardboards in front of their class mates encouraging their speech. Working in teams to come up with the cardboards made them more open to their colleagues personalities, accepting and encouraging one another when they had to present their work. Associating bellowed objects like toys, children stories or cartoon characters with the animals had a positive impact. At the beginning of each power — point presentation the museum curator included bear, wolf or owl cartoon characters creating a relaxed and friendly learning environment for the children. All so when they were asked why these animals were loved cartoon characters the children found numerous examples of qualities associated to them that make these animals true “heroes” from nature. For example one teacher Vasiu Crina from the “Octavian Goga” National College from Sibiu asked the children to bring to the bear month activities their Teddy bears. The museum curator responsible for that activity included in the presentation the history of the teddy bear and what it stands for, the toy being a symbol, explaining to the children that the efforts to protect bears are not just a present day issues. Associating bellowed objects like toys, children stories or cartoon characters with the animals had a positive impact. The children transformed colouring and solving their worksheets in to a competion. From one activity to the other they were competing which one would know to respond to more questions and so they searched on their one spear time information related to the animals, encouraging self - learning. Some of the teachers were amazed with the response of the children and their work during the activities because at school they did not show the same interest. For example because of her hard work at our museum activities one of the participants received from her teacher Marcela Bratu (“Octavian Goga” National College) a better grade at school. To self evaluate their teaching method the coordinators asked at the beginning of each activity the participants a few questions related to the last time they were at the museum. As the power — point presentations had the same structure for each animal, when the children would learn about a new animal they were asked questions to see if they understood and memorise the information from the previous lesson, and thus learning by comparison. Our museum general exhibit holds in the section dedicated to birds eight species of owls. The children after completing the owl species work sheets were asked to go in to the exhibit and identify them by their common names, of course holding their worksheets. At the end of the exercise all of the children could name at least two species of owls from the Romanian fauna. 133
