Interactive and entertaining: boosting museum learning experiences in Jordan
In a historic move, Jordanian partners recently organised an educational event for a group of local primary school children at the Jordan Archaeological Museum, situated on Amman's historic citadel. The event, designed to demonstrate how the principles in the guidelines 'Engaging Young People in Museum Learning' can be applied in practice, was a resounding success.
The young participants showed great interest, active engagement, and had fun throughout the event. Indoors, they embarked on a treasure hunt for artefacts and related words in the museum display. Outdoors, they participated in a mock archaeological excavation and helped conserve a mock drystone wall, gaining hands-on experience of the work of archaeologists and conservators.
The success of this event could lead to increased participation of Jordan's youth in cultural heritage learning. It also contributes to the goal of revitalizing Jordanian museum education, as the 'learning through doing' and 'learning through enjoyment' approach resonated with the teachers.
The Jordan Archaeological Museum is part of the Multicultural Amman project, an initiative funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and the Greater Amman Municipality (GNCA) in Jordan. This project aims to engage Jordan’s youth in exploring and learning about their country’s rich cultural heritage, leveraging Amman’s diverse historical and cultural landscape.
The Multicultural Amman project is a research and community engagement project focusing on the multicultural dimensions of Amman, a city historically inhabited and influenced by a variety of cultural groups and traditions. It explores how different communities, traditions, and histories coexist in Amman and shape the city’s identity.
The project contributes to engaging Jordan's youth in various ways. It organises workshops, seminars, and interactive sessions designed specifically for young people to learn about the different cultural layers of Amman. It encourages youth involvement in heritage documentation and storytelling, making them active participants in preserving and interpreting their cultural heritage.
By using digital media, arts, and storytelling, the project makes learning accessible and appealing to younger generations, often using platforms relevant to them. It fosters a sense of identity and pride among Jordanian youth by highlighting the richness and diversity of their local culture and history.
Collaborations with schools, universities, cultural institutions, and local communities help the project reach young people across Greater Amman. The teachers expressed interest in returning for future events, which could encourage more collaborations between educational institutions and museums in Jordan.
This event represents a significant step towards sustainable museum education in Jordan, reinforcing the principles outlined in the guidelines 'Engaging Young People in Museum Learning'. The project's success could lead to increased cultural awareness and pride among Jordanian youth, bridging the gap between their diverse cultural roots and the rapidly modernizing urban context.
The event at the Jordan Archaeological Museum, focused on 'learning through doing' and 'learning through enjoyment', aligns well with the principles in the guidelines 'Engaging Young People in Museum Learning'. The event highlighted the potential for increased participation of Jordan's youth in cultural heritage learning and museum education.
The Multicultural Amman project, with its workshops, seminars, and interactions, extends its reach to young people, fostering their learning about Amman's rich cultural heritage through engaging and accessible methods, such as digital media, arts, and storytelling.
