Definition of Governance

IanThilthorpe

Senior Manager

Tyne & Wear Museums

NERMH E-LearningProjects

•Improve public engagement with Hub museumcollections through the use of digital technology

•Maximise new audience potential

•Serve as advocates of e-learning for sector staff

•Support sector staff in the development of e-learning projects

NERMH E-Learning Remit

Podcasting - What is it?

•A global phenomenon for the distribution and consumption of multi mediacontent.

•RSS distribution enables regular and automatic subscription to newaudio/video content.

•Increasing popularity and decreasing cost of iPod/MP3 players reflectshow audiences are consuming content in new ways

•By 2005 only 1.6% of the U.S. population had ever downloaded a podcast.

•By 2010 it is predicted that 20% will be regularly downloading content.

Podcasting

Podcasting - How is it being used?

Museums/Heritage sector beginning to explore this medium asmeans of reaching new audiences.

Simple and direct method of distributing innovative content toaudiences.

A new level of interactivity for audiences on websites and invenues.

Personalised and mobile learning

Increased marketing potential. Subscriptions enablesustainable relationships with audience.

•To research the value of podcasting as an educational andmarketing tool

•Staff acquire skills to enable sustainable production of podcasts.

•Initial ‘magazine’ style delivered in an ‘enhanced’ audio format. Bitesize, engaging features e.g. short interview with Wayne Hemingwayon opening of ‘Designs for Life’ exhibition.

•Initially targeted at ‘lazy social’ audience.

•To be the first of number of distinct strands of podcasts: talks,exhibitions, behind the scenes etc. appealing to different audiences.

Podcasting

Video Podcast (Bowes Museum)

Three pilot episodes focusing on redevelopment of museum,collections and exhibitions.

Video format to be released monthly.

Attempt to develop relationship between podcast presentersand audience.

Behind the scenes features presented in engaging “BBCdocumentary” style.

Staff to acquire skills to produce sustainable series.

Aims:

•To re examine the value of video conferencing as aneducational tool.

•Explore the use of video conferencing for engaging adultaudiences and schools with our sites and collections.

•To engage with the Joint Academic Network (JANET) videoconferencing programme.

Video Conferencing

Schools Video Conferencing Pilots

Project undertaken with MLA North East and Northern Grid for Learning todevelop highly interactive, engaging educational video conferencing (VC)sessions for schools.

Three pilot events developed by Hub staff in consultation with teachers.

Developed as pre-visit events.

Formal evaluation being compiled and expected by end May 2008

Informal feedback very positive and encouraging:

Plans to develop catalogue of VC sessions for schools as pre/post visit andstand alone sessions. To be made available through JANET Collaborate.