Macquarie Universty Museum of Ancient Cultures

Click on the links below to move to information on:

» Education Programs

» Community Outreach Programs

» Continuing Education Programs

» Volunteer Program

» Work Placement or Mentor Program

» Museum Internships

» Work Experience Program

» Corporate Training Programs

EDUCATION PROGRAMS

Secondary School Ancient History Programs

The Museum of Ancient Cultures offers Education Programs for years 7, 11 and 12 in Ancient History in line with the NSW junior and senior Ancient History syllabuses. Other secondary school years can be accommodated if teachers are offering their students special programs in school. Schools attend our education programs from all over NSW and the ACT.

The programs are conducted by the Museum's Education Officers who are trained as qualified teachers. Their skills, talents and subject specialties are matched to suit the requirements of the programs on offer.

The content of these programs can be tailor-made to suit the needs of the individual schools or can be organised along more general lines to meet school requirements.

The programs are divided into 3 sessions:

1. an interactive slide or PowerPoint presentation to challenge and stimulate students

2. a hands-on session where students are given gloves and set out to develop their cognitive skills by working directly with ancient artefacts (by problem solving, analysis and use of evidence) and

3. a conducted tour of the Museum itself, involving further exercises in interpretation of archaeological material.

The cost of the program is $18.70 per student, including GST. The program runs from 10.00am to approximately 1.00pm from Monday to Friday, or at other times by arrangement.

The Education Program can also be brought to schools where there is a difficulty getting to the University. This is by arrangement only and the booking needs to be discussed with the Manager.

Where this happens, the charge per student is slightly higher to cover the costs of travel and insurance. Currently this cost is Currently the cost is $22.00 including GST.

Morning Tea and Lunch Breaks

There is a short morning tea break after the end of the first session and once the next two sessions are completed, finalising the Education Program, school groups are able to go off for lunch before heading back to their schools.

Those who bring packed lunches and drinks are able to sit on the grassed areas close to the Museum to have their lunch if the weather is good. Those wishing to purchase lunch on campus can do so at the student eating facilities in the SAM (Students at Macquarie) Building.

Many schools who have some distance to travel begin their bus journeys home and stop off somewhere closer to school to have their lunch.

School Excursion Risk Management Document

For teachers organising a school excursion to the Museum of Ancient Cultures, we have done the Risk Management document for you in PDF format.

You can download this PDF by clicking here and attach it to the documentation you need for the school excursion.

Other Education Programs

The Museum has also designed specific programs for other groups:

upper Primary School Programs for Years 5 and 6
programs to suit secondary Gifted and Talented students
programs for those studying Classical Greek or Latin
programs such as Face to Face with the New Testament, for those studying secondary Religious or Biblical Studies, or for church and community groups
historical or cultural programs for Years 8, 9 or 10 where the school may need special programs in a particular subject area.
Students with disabilities can be accommodated in the Education Programs.

We ask that excursion organisers discuss these students' needs so that we can enhance their visit as much as possible.

VOLUNTEER PROGRAM

Volunteers are normally taken from within the Undergraduate and Postgraduate student body of Macquarie University, usually from the disciplines of either Ancient History, Museum Studies or Education (for those in the Teacher Education Program).

Potential volunteers are interviewed and if suitable are invited to join the Museum team as a volunteer to participate in a full-range of museum activities and projects.

CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAMS

On occasion, the Museum organises and offers Continuing Education Programs for members of the university or the wider community to attend. As these become available, the details and costs will be posted on our web site.

If you would like us to organise a Continuing Education Program, please contact us and discuss your needs.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAM

While the Museum of Ancient Cultures is a public facility open at set times for casual visitation at no cost, community groups who wish to arrange for organised tours and programs are charged to cover staff time.

While such programs are often conducted during business hours, groups can also attend in the evenings or on weekends by special arrangement.

In the past we have catered for groups from the U3A, the service clubs such as Probus, the Scouts and Cubs, Church groups, Community Associations, Senior Citizen's groups and Business clubs.

WORK PLACEMENT AND MENTORING PROGRAM

People who are thinking of studying to join the museum industry, or who are interested in volunteer work in their local community museum may approach us to see if they can be included in a Work Placement or Mentor Program.

Those who are on government-sponsored work schemes may also make enquiries to see if they are eligible to participate in our programs to broaden the range of their skills and experience.

MUSEUM INTERNSHIPS

Students who are studying a degree course in Museums Studies, Heritage Studies or Cultural Studies, among other courses, may like to contact us to see if they can arrange a Museum internship with the Museum of Ancient Cultures at Macquarie University.

Those already studying at Macquarie University need to arrange this through their lecturers or course coordinators who can discuss this with the Museum Manager.

To discuss the possibilities of an internship further, please contact Karl Van Dyke on (02) 9850 9263 or e-mail: karl.vandyke@mq.edu.au

WORK EXPERIENCE PROGRAM

This program is open to secondary school or TAFE students doing secondary schooling. Those on the program can experience something of the work of Museum staff, ancient historians and archaeologists.

Students carry out general office duties, help with administration, may do some research via computer or the Library or may do database entry. They are shown how to handle artefacts correctly, are given some of the basic principles of design and exhibition layout, attend the Education Program to develop their skills of observation and deduction as well as develop their people skills by meeting and interacting with staff, students, other work experience students and members of the public. Past students have found this a very beneficial program to attend.

As a general rule of thumb we take students from those schools who support our Education Programs and bring their students on excursion to Macquarie University.

Arrangements can be made between the high school and the Museum. Careers Advisors can contact the Manager / Curator of the Museum, Karl Van Dyke on (02) 9850 9263 to discuss this further and to see what dates are available.

Please note: This is a very popular program, so schools need to book their students in with the Museum as early as possible.

CORPORATE TRAINING PROGRAMS

Many companies in the workplace are interested in training their staff to develop their skills, knowledge, methods and approaches.

To help them do this, especially with banking and finance staff, we have run innovative programs where trainees interact with and analyse ancient artefacts. No prior knowledge of ancient artefacts, Ancient History or archaeology is required. Ours is a novel approach that both intrigues and stimulates participants, who learn while they are having fun. The approach helps develop cognitive skills and the processes of insight, research and analytical skills, communication skills, team building and cohesion along with people skills as well as develops personal confidence.

If you or your company is interested in something new in staff training, please contact the Manager Karl Van Dyke on (02) 9850 9263 to discuss your needs.

RESOURCES

This section of the site provides some background information about the Hellenistic Period and is designed to assist teachers and students undertaking two topics in the Ancient History Stage 6 Syllabus:
(1) Part III Option M: Greece: The Hellenistic Period from the death of Alexander the Great to Cleopatra VII, and
(2) Part I Option I: Greece: Cleopatra VII.

The object on this page is part of a Hellenistic theatre mask (MU 3764)