Study Guide

Objective

- The student will know the principles of museum organization regarding preservation, use and accessibility of cultural heritage as well as collection care, and she/he will apply this in her/his work.
- The student will understand the meaning of provenance and history of an object and she/he will take this into consideration in her/his work as a conservator.
- The student will understand the transformation of an object identity into a museum object.
- The students will understand the principles of collection management both in museums and other collections.
- The student will be able to follow the principles and guidelines in collection management both during project work and internships.
- The student will be familiar with collection formation as well as disposal and deaccessioning of museum objects.
- The student will be able to apply the methods of preventive conservation in practice, and in different tasks of collection care and management.
- The student will understand basics of the processes of museum exhibitions and the tasks of a conservator.
- The student will be able to give advice in handling, exhibition installations, packing, storage and transport as well as in use and choose of materials for different object groups.
- The student will understand the idea of sustainable development and she/he will be able to apply it in the preservation of cultural heritage.
- The student will be aware of environmental threats, and she/he will know how to approach these.
- The student will be familiar with risk assessment of environmental conditions, care and disaster planning to protect cultural heritage (water damage, flood, fire, earthquake, theft, e.g.).
- The student will be familiar with the collection management programmes used by museums, and she/he will understand the importance of object documentation, and she/he will be able to document the object as required by the context (conservation, inventory, cataloguing, documentation, etc.).
- The student will have an understanding of various conservation documents and documentation methods and she/he will know how to apply these in various conservation cases.
- The student will learn to produce conservation documents and read them.
- The student will learn the terminology of conservation and she/he will understand their meaning and know how to use them in conservation assignment

Content

- Collection management policy in theory and practice
- Inventory and documentation of objects
- Conservation documents, their use and production
- Condition survey, condition report and damage description
- Conservation terminology ja documentation methods
- Role of an object and significance analysis
- Museum exhibitions and displays
- Accessibility and usability of museums and collections
- Collection care and conservation
- Storage facilities and their management
- Handling, packing, transport, and loans of objects
- Risk assessment, care, and disaster planning
- Security issues related to collections
- Sustainable development in museum work and conservation

Location and time

Contact teaching will be at the Arabia Campus, Hämeentie 135 D.

Materials

To be announced before the course start.

Teaching methods

Lecture, contact teaching, assignments, independent work with literature.

Employer connections

Working life collaboration takes place through visits and/or visiting lecturers and professional discussions, and also with National Audiovisual Institute as a developing documentation project.

Completion alternatives

No option

Student workload

The weekly working hours of a student is 1,5 cr which is equivalent to 40 hours of studies. 40 hours is formed from approx. 17 hours of contact studies with a lecturer. The remaining hours is spent by independent literature survey or practical work. 1 credit (cr) is equivalent to 27 hours (h).

Further information

Attendance requirement 80 %.

Evaluation scale

0-5

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

The student has a lot of absences from the teaching sessions. Activity during the teaching sessions and learning assignments is unsatisfactory. The student should improve her/his group working skills. The student can grasp the basic ideas of the subject, but the problem solving is limited and ability to apply theory to a practical work require development. The student does not work independently and there is a lot of need for teacher’s further guidance. The student has not given a requisite amount of attention for the subject and the learning result is fragmented. The student needs to develop her/his skills and knowledge in many areas.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

The student has taken part to all teaching sessions and learning assignments and the activity during the course is good. The student acts flexibly as a group member. Work progresses consistently during the study period. The student understands the basic ideas of the course and can apply theoretical studies in practical work. The student understands the importance of the things to be learned for the professional field and the related cause and effect relationships. The student’s work has been sufficiently independent, but there is still need for guidance. The student manages the set of tasks and has achieved a good level at her/his skills and knowledge.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

The course objectives have been achieved in a competent manner. The student has participated actively and constructively in the teaching and learning assignments. The student has acted as group member encouragingly and strengthening teamwork. The student understands the things taught in the course commendably and can apply what she/he has learned in accordance with the requirements of her/his professional field. The student understands and knows to anticipate the cause-and-effect relationships of the activities related to the matters to her/his professional field.
The student’s work has been sufficiently independent. The student masters the whole subject both in theory and practice. The student has achieved an excellent level in her/his skills and knowledge.

Assessment criteria, approved/failed

The student has a lot of absences from the teaching sessions. Activity during the teaching sessions and learning assignments is unsatisfactory. The student should improve her/his group working skills. The student can grasp the basic ideas of the subject, but the problem solving is limited and ability to apply theory to a practical work require development. The student does not work independently and there is a lot of need for teacher’s further guidance. The student has not given a requisite amount of attention for the subject and the learning result is fragmented. The student needs to develop her/his skills and knowledge in many areas.

Assessment methods and criteria

Learning assignment 60 %, continuous assessment 40 %.
Assessment is based on continuous assessment of a student and attendance.
Learning journal and learning assignments.

Prerequisites

Museology I and Museography 5 cr

Further information

The course is implemented as a project-based learning. The starting point is learning through practical work. Student her-/himself has a role as an investigative learner.