Introduction

This online exhibition celebrates 17 years of Oxford Brookes University Initial Teacher Training 'cultural placements'. Each year, BA (Hons) Primary Education students in their final year engage in placement activities outside formal school environments. They explore learning beyond the classroom, in a contrasting cultural context, and consider how they might utilise the new environment they are in to generate thematic cross-curricular experiences for learners. The opportunity to immerse themselves in these alternate learning environments beyond school includes a 3-4 day placement at a venue in and around Oxford (the 16 cultural partners are listed in the side navigation bar). The module aims 'to develop creativity in teaching and empower pupils to learn in a creative way' (Module Handbook 2019/20, p.1).

The teacher training students are required to develop a learning resource for primary-aged children (5-11 year olds) based around an aspect of their cultural placement collection. They are encouraged to consider applying a range of pedagogical approaches that best utilise the unique contexts in which they find themselves. This virtual exhibition has emerged from the annual display that has traditionally been held within the Art block at the Harcourt Court Hill Campus. This normally takes place in late March at the university and all the cultural venue staff who have supported the trainees are invited. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic this year, the physical exhibition was cancelled. As an alternate celebration, this online virtual gallery of students’ work has been constructed. Each exhibit is a photograph of the collection of learning resources that the students produced as part of their cultural placements.

Oxford Brookes would like to take the opportunity to say a huge thank you to all of the cultural venues and their staff for the tremendous ongoing support they give to the teacher training students, always for no charge.

If you have any comments about the exhibition or the cultural placements, then please do leave a note in the Guest book.

Click on the images below or go to the list of cultural placements to find out about learning resources produced by the BA (Hons) Primary Education students. The side navigation menu will also enable you to find more about each partner cultural venue.

A special thanks needs to be extended to Jennie McFadden and Carol Ducker, now both retired from Oxford Brookes University, whose energy and enthusiasm over many years has ensured that all BA(Hons) Primary Education students experience a cultural placement as part of their teacher training. Additionally, not to forget, Amanda Barton who has been central to the module and placements since 2003.

Thanks is also extended to the co-curators of the online exhibition: Karen Hosack Janes and Sarah Frodsham.

Go to the Guest Book.