When staff in the Education Department of the Ashmolean Museum heard that local art teachers were struggling to incorporate new technologies into the classroom, they decided to lead the steady stream of school groups through the Museum's doors by example.
Through the Digital Sketchbooks project, they invited schools along to workshops in the Ashmolean and set out to create an online handbook for teachers demonstrating how tablets can enhance a museum visit. This focused on versatile apps that allow art students to capture and edit photos, create 3D images and short animations, and draw with the digital equivalent of messy materials such as paint and charcoal. Uptake of the resources has been fantastic, according to Helen Ward, Deputy Head of Education at the Ashmolean: tens of thousands of downloads or views of the resources.
Students... had clear guidance and inspiration for what was required. Using the iPads made them excited and even more positive about the whole trip.
– School teacher
