Dandiiri Maiwar as a learning experience

Before visiting Dandiiri Maiwar

Establishing prior knowledge and providing scaffolding for learning:

Excursions/visits that are firmly embedded in classroom-based learning experiences or units of work provide students with a more effective learning experience that offers them a context and framework to build on.

Establish and discuss with students the purpose of the visit, make a list of aims and objectives.
Based on their prior knowledge (establish what they already know) and experience of Aboriginal cultures and Torres Strait Islander cultures, have the students discuss what they are hoping to learn, see, do, experience.
Develop open-ended questions for students to think about (e.g. How do the media portray Aboriginal cultures and Torres Strait Islander cultures? How do objects tell us about the people who own/made them? How were the objects/artefacts obtained?).
Download the prepared student worksheet to focus exploration during your class visit.
Discuss the concept of a museum as a learning place that is shared with others - talk about the links between school and museum.
Organise students to work in groups (click to see example) to support and share learning.
Use a copy of the Museum's floor plan and the Dandiiri Maiwar map to familiarise yourself and the students with the layout of the Centre and the Museum's facilities.

At Dandiiri Maiwar

Upon arrival at Dandiiri Maiwar view the "Welcome to Country" given by Uncle Bob Anderson and Aunty Jianna Richardson.

Out of respect for the families and communities who have contributed their stories we request that there be no photography within the Centre.

Enjoying the experience

Self-guided

Upon arrival at Dandiiri Maiwar allow time for students to get a "feel" for the area by allowing them to briefly explore the Centre, i.e. in their groups, allow about ten minutes for the students to walk through and around the circles.
Explore the Centre with your students - the general map guide will provide information about each area.
Ask each group to choose one circle and explore and record themes, key objects, main stories etc.

Exhibition Up Close! (Education Officer-guided)

Students are introduced to the objects and stories within the Centre.
Discover the stories, histories and perspectives of Aboriginal Peoples and Torres Strait Islanders.
Celebrate Queensland's Aboriginal cultures and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Bookings are essential for all school groups.

After visiting Dandiiri Maiwar

When you return to the classroom:

Relate the visit to your classroom work.
Ask each group to report on one activity they completed.
Discuss how the information that students found during their visit differs from or confirms, their expectations before the visit and focus on how their understandings have changed or been extended.
Report on findings based on discussions or questions formulated in class.
Retell events, describe /share feelings, talk about likes/dislikes.
Carry out further research or debate any issues that arise in discussion after their visit and use these findings to write information reports or expositions.
Collate the information gathered at the Centre into a class booklet or computer database.
Make posters, models or displays - visually represent feelings, experiences, etc.
Remind students of purpose of visit - did anything change, were the original purposes/objectives achieved?
What were the main themes?
Talk about the layout of the Centre - why do you think the circles are placed this way?