How NML's collections might be used for learning

National Museums Liverpool has literally millions of objects in its care. Around 1,500 of these collection items are featured on our website. They cover all of our venues and most of our major collections, however we want to expand and improve this offer. We want to create a single, comprehensive, online system that will make it easier and more enjoyable to explore our vast collections of objects.

We already know that teachers and other education professionals use our site as part of their work but want to increase and aid that usage by making the collections system more relevant to them. We've put together a short survey to see how the site is currently being used in teaching and what sort of facilities would be of use. It would help us enormously if you could answer these eight questions - it shouldn't take more than about 5 minutes to complete.

If you're interested in this subject and would be willing to help us plan, test and evaluate our collections system please leave your contact details at the end of the survey. If you have any questions please contact Karen Miller on karen.miller@liverpoolmuseums.org.uk

Thanks

1. Have you ever used or visited the NML website for teaching purposes?

	Visited the site but did not use for teaching
	Yes, I used the site
	No, have neither used nor visited the site for teaching

2. If you answered 'yes, I used the site', how have you used our site for teaching? Please tick all that apply.

	Planning a class visit to a museum/gallery
	Evaluating a class visit to a museum/gallery
	Research for a lesson
	Used as part of a lesson
	Downloaded activity sheets
	To encourage pupils to research/learn on their own
	Other (please describe)

3. Have you used another museum's website for teaching purposes, and if so which museum and how did you use the site?

4. We are developing a new object collection system for the website and want to know how to make it useful for teachers.

So, which of the following activities/features might you make use of in the course of your teaching?

	Definitely use	Possibly use	Would not use	Not sure
The ability to 'bundle up' different objects from the system for online recall and use in the classroom
The ability to 'bundle up' and annotate items, either for your use or for use by the pupils.
Ability to print off existing gallery trails/worksheets created by the museum.
The ability to create and print off your own gallery trails/worksheets.
The ability to share your own tours, worksheets etc, either with other teachers, NML or for use by parents.
Introduction to key topics linking to the National Curriculum and schemes of work , eg Impressionism, slavery, world cultures.
Ability to print off object records/images
Watch videos of gallery talks, demonstrations etc.
Use fun learning interactives, either for whole class or individual pupil use.
Object text aimed specifically at children.
Activities to encourage pupils to undertake independent learning/research
None of these facilities
All of these facilties

5. Which subjects or parts of our collection would be of particular interest to you as a teacher? Are there particular areas of the curriculum we could support?

6. Thinking as a general web user, would you use any of the following features?

	Definitely use	Possibly use	Would not use	Not sure
Ability to post your own thoughts, reminiscences or comments alongside a collection item?
Zoom in to see items in greater detail
Research papers on the objects, their conservation etc.
Watch videos or listen to talks on the collections and galleries
Order copies of images from the site

7. Are there any other features you would like to see on our website?

8. Which age group or key stage do you teach?

9. Would you be willing to help us plan, test and evaluate our collections system in future? If so, please add your name and email address.

	No
	Yes