Education
DIGITAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR SCHOOLS
In 2015, Herakleion Archaeological Museum supported by European funding, developed two educational programs, which are provided gratis to pupils of Elementary and Middle School (age range 9-10 and 13-15 years old). Age groups were decided based on survey data of school visits to the Museum.
Both Educational Programs are implemented entirely by exploiting the benefits of Information and Communication Technology. Educational experiences are structured on tablets, all-in-one pc, thus gaining proximity to the young audience. At the same time the programs enable the integration of real Museum objects into the content of the education curriculum.
The program addressed to Primary Education pupils is titled “A feast in the palace”. Participants “follow” a child of the Minoan period in his way from his neighborhood to the palace in order to be part of a large feast. Through this imaginary digital adventure, children must follow the “trails” in the Museum’s galleries and showcases, in order to complete a series of activities based on museum exhibits. The program for Secondary Education is titled “Travelling in the Mediterranean Sea”. Participants become members of a commercial ship crew that travels in time, from Prehistory to the Roman Era, around the Mediterranean. Students digitally bargain, exchange, and become familiar with non-local materials, techniques, and beliefs that circulated through maritime trade in antiquity.
All devices used during the program are provided free on site. Visiting groups are accompanied by an archaeologist of the Museum’s staff.
Museum trails for families with children over 5 years old
Explore the Heraklion Archaeological Museum with the museum trails designed for children and parents. The educational leaflets are available at three different subjects offering a fun and creative experience to families. Provided free of charge at the ticket office at the entrance of the Heraklion Archaeological Museum.
Minoans at AMH
With the leaflet "Minoans at AMH" children discover exhibits of the Prehistoric Collection of the Museum through activities offering them a fun experience.
Plants and Animals at AMH
With the leaflet "Plants and Animals at AMH" young visitors of the Museum go on a tour in the Prehistoric Collection, while discovering renown and favourite animals and plants through the Museum exhibits.
Gods and Heroes at AMH
With the leaflet "Gods and Heroes at AMH" children discover the gods and heroes of the ancient Greek world through Museum exhibits of the Historical Period Collection, while learning about famous Cretan myths.
Conference on the educational programs of HAM
The digital educational programmes implemented by the Heraklion Archaeological Museum in cooperation with the Multimedia, Networks and Communication Laboratory of the Technological Educational Institute of Crete, in the framework of the ERDF Operational Programme “Education and Lifelong Learning” (“Experiential Cultural Environments” action), were presented to the educational community at a one-day seminar on 23 April 2016, following the appropriate notification via the Directorates of Primary and Secondary Education.
Apart from the two digital programmes “A Festival at the Palace” and “Journeying through the Mediterranean” for 3rd and 4th-year Primary and Gymnasium students respectively, the project members also presented the theoretical museum education framework within which they worked.
There followed the application of the programmes by the teachers, using digital technology, in the exhibition rooms of the Museum and the educational programme room.
The seminar was attended by 120 teachers and representatives of educational bodies, who commented particularly favourably on the educational programmes and submitted proposals regarding future educational events.
