/library/oar/handle/123456789/1056 2025-11-05T00:49:44Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/137184 Title: Ignorare - to ignore : forgotten publics and museum materiality Authors: Debono, Sandro Abstract: Museums have come to recognize accessibility as a fundamental requirement guiding all facets of their management and curatorial practice. Access would generally concern the experience that the museum provides within its musealized perimeter, oftentimes centred around museum materiality that is prevalently more often than not a collection of objects and artefacts. It is a given, at least at face value, that the museum would exhibit and interpret tangible and intangible heritage to which publics are given access, both physical and intellectual, occasionally also empowering them to participate in the «varied experiences for education, enjoyment, reflection and knowledge sharing.» This somewhat superficial understanding of accessibility sits within the proviso that access concerns museum publics rather than museum collections. Indeed, as museums invest their time and energies in becoming more and more accessible, these oftentimes forget that the content presented within their musealized container might be the real challenge to engage with. It might be a case of choice, which could also be the direct outcome of a historic process, but also a matter of interpretation. Translating the historic museum, conceived as a place to conserve material culture, and make it more accessible to its publics and corresponding communities is far from being a linear process of change. Could it be that the museum’s very own raison d’etre and underlying values are lost in translation as the museum transitions from an object centred to a people-centred institution or would this transformation achieve the right equilibrium between historic identity and contemporary necessities? [excerpt] 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/137183 Title: Collecting from the future embedding strategic foresight in museum collections development Authors: Debono, Sandro Abstract: The paper calls for an alternative mode to the present-centric collections development practices guided by futures-oriented perspectives. This new approach, tentatively referenced to a curated choice of strategic foresight tools, would introduce the concept of “future memories” in collections management. Thanks to these tools, museums would be better equipped to anticipate societal change, address representational gaps, and curate collections for relevance in a multiple range of futures. 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/131826 Title: Energy and presence : a journey from theatre lab to teacher training Authors: Gatt, Isabelle Abstract: This article narrates my journey through laboratory physical theatre, focusing on how actor presence emerges from physical training, imagination, intentionality and connection with the audience. It then argues for the significance of these elements in initial teacher training, exploring the concept of teacher presence and examining to create a more embodied and active engagement in the classroom, similar to the craft of an actor in performance. By integrating actor-training, I propose that presence is something developed through laboratory theatre training techniques. In my work with student teachers, I incorporate such techniques to work on their energetic presence, enabling them to create richer emotional connections with their students. Research indicates that strong teacher-student relationships significantly impact academic achievement, motivation, and engagement. These relationships flourish when teachers leverage their mental, physical, and emotional resources, suggesting that presence is not merely an innate quality but a skill that can be developed through specific actor-training exercises. Student logs of reflections on the drama module sessions will illustrate the transformative impact of this training on their confidence, teaching practices, and the relationships cultivated within the classroom. Ultimately, I posit that when educators engage their intellect, emotions, and creativity, they can create dynamic learning environments that resonate with authenticity and connection. 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/131449 Title: Networked Learning: an aspiration to perfection worth pursuing Abstract: This is a learning resource shared with the students reading the Masters in Open and Networked Higher Education. It was written in October 2022 and recently updated in November 2024 when the resource was reused in relation to the study-unit titled 'Open and networked higher education'. 2022-11-01T00:00:00Z