Learning Programmes with Portraits

• Toolkit Homepage
• Learning in Museums and Galleries
• Why develop a learning programme
• What programme will you run?
• How to develop a learning programme
• Who is your programme for?
• Evaluation
• Themes around Portraiture
• Case Studies
• Festivals and National Events
• Acknowledgements
• Return to main Toolkits page

Directed and Self-directed Learning

Visits to and learning activities at museums, galleries and historic sites can be divided into Directed and Self-directed.

Directed visits mean that the participants are taking part in a programme guided by an educator, such as a guided tour, schools workshop, lecture or practical art session.

For more information on planning 'directed' learning events go to the audiences section under Who? on the main page of this website.

Self-directed learning is when individuals have primary responsibility for planning, implementing and even evaluating their learning. Learning tools, such as trails or on-line resources may still be used, but the participants use them with no or little instruction.

Examples of tools for self-directed learning can be found in the online portrait resource Case Study: Museum Network Online or the activities for families at Kenilworth Castle. Many tools for self-directed learning, however, are discussed in the toolkit 'How to Interpret and Understand the Language of Portraits', such as interactives with exhibition displays.

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