EDUCATING ABOUT TRANSPORT HISTORY: DEVELOPING OBJECT-LEARNING PROGRAMS AT THE LONDON TRANSPORT MUSEUM An Interactive Qualifying Project Report submitted to the Faculty of the Worcester Polytechnic Institute, in partial fulfillment of the Bachelor of Science degree in cooperation with the London Transport Museum Submitted by: Andrew Barth Luke Perreault Ryan Santos Woodrow Shattuck Project Advisors: Professor Zhikun Hou Professor Wesley Mott Sponsor Liason: Elizabeth Poulter Submitted on: 19 June 2013 Abstract Incorporating engineering objects into educational outreach programs is a proven means to excite students about transport engineering. Grounded in theories of museum education and object-based learning, we offer means to help the London Transport Museum (LTM) achieve this mission: narratives on various disciplines of transport engineering, an engineering object catalog, and “toolkits” for using objects in engineering education programs. These resources and suggestions for acquiring new engineering objects are designed to enhance current and future program development. i Table of Contents Abstract ............................................................................................................................................ i Authorship...................................................................................................................................... iv Table of Figures ............................................................................................................................. vi Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................................... 1 Executive Summary ........................................................................................................................ 2 1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 6 2. Background ................................................................................................................................. 8 2.1. Education in Museums ......................................................................................................... 9 2.2. Inquiry-Based Learning...................................................................................................... 11 2.3. Object-Based Learning ....................................................................................................... 12 2.4. Objects Engaging Inquiry: TfL Inspire & Object-Based Learning at LTM ...................... 16 3. Methodology ............................................................................................................................. 18 3.1. Objective I .......................................................................................................................... 19 3.2. Objective II ......................................................................................................................... 21 3.3. Objective III ....................................................................................................................... 22 3.4. Objective IV ....................................................................................................................... 26 3.5. Summary ............................................................................................................................ 27 4. Results & Recommendations .................................................................................................... 28 4.1. Engineering Narratives ....................................................................................................... 28 4.2. Engineering Object Catalog ............................................................................................... 30 4.3. “Primary Inspire” Object-Based Learning Material ........................................................... 33 4.4. Educational Material for Object-Handling Trolley ............................................................ 35 4.5. Recommendations .............................................................................................................. 37 5. Appendices ................................................................................................................................ 41 5.1. Appendix A – Interview Script and Guidelines ................................................................. 41 5.2. Appendix B – Engineer Interview Transcripts ................................................................... 44 5.3. Appendix C – Engineering Object Catalog ....................................................................... 58 5.4. Appendix D – Museum Education Interview Transcripts .................................................. 69 5.5. Appendix E – Museum Education Reference Documents ................................................. 81 ii 5.6. Appendix F – “Primary Inspire” Object-Based Learning Materials .................................. 85 5.7. Appendix G – Handling Trolley Object-Based Learning Materials .................................. 92 5.8. Appendix H – Engineering Narratives ............................................................................. 105 5.9. Appendix I – Sponsor Description ................................................................................... 139 6. References ............................................................................................................................... 143 iii Authorship Andrew Barth – AB Luke Perreault – LP Ryan Santos – RS Woodrow Shattuck - WS Primary Authorship Editing and Revisions Abstract LP LP Executive Summary LP LP Introduction LP LP Background -Introductory Section RS, LP RS, LP -Education in Museums AB AB, LP -Inquiry-Based Learning WS WS -Object Based Learning LP LP -Objects Engaging Inquiry: TfL Inspire & Object-Based RS RS, LP Learning at the London Transport Museum Methodology -Objective I LP LP -Objective II RS, AB AB, LP -Objective III Group Group -Objective IV WS, LP WS, LP -Summary LP LP Results & Recommendations iv -Engineering Narratives LP LP -Engineering Object Catalog RS, LP RS, LP -“Primary Inspire” Object-Based Learning Material WS WS, LP -Object-Handling Trolley Educational Material AB Group -Recommendations LP Group Appendix A – Sponsor Description Group Appendix B – Engineer Interviews Group Appendix C – Engineering Objects Catalog Group Appendix D – Museum Education Interviews Group Appendix E – Museum Education Reference N/A N/A Documents Appendix F – Primary Inspire Material LP, WS LP, WS Appendix G – Handling Trolley Material AB, RS AB, RS Appendix H – Engineering Narratives -Track Engineering RS RS -Electrical Engineering RS RS -Civil Engineering: Tunneling LP LP -Civil Engineering: Roads LP LP -Civil Engineering: Bridges WS WS -Buses and Trams WS WS -Signaling Engineering AB AB Appendix I – Sponsor Description Group Group References AB*, Group Group *Managed/organized sources. v Table of Figures Figure 1: Investigating an Object .................................................................................................. 15 Figure 2: Preliminary Project Plan ................................................................................................ 18 Figure 3: Sample from the Engineering Object Catalog. .............................................................. 32 Figure 4: "Force Arrows" for use in the "Primary Inspire" Arch Activity. .................................. 35 Figure 5: Learning from Objects ................................................................................................... 81 Figure 6: Science Museum on Developing Educational Resources ............................................. 84 Figure 7: Income Sources for the London Transport Museum ................................................... 140 Figure 8: London Transport Museum Expenditures ................................................................... 141 vi Acknowledgements We would like to thank our sponsor liaison, Elizabeth Poulter, for her consistent help and constant encouragement during this presentation. We’d additionally like to thank our advisors, Prof. Wesley Mott and Prof. Zhikun Hou, and our ID 2050 instructor, Nicola Bulled. Their advice and support over the past fourteen weeks has been vital to this project. Last, but vastly far from least, our group would like to extend our gratitude to the London Transport Museum staff, the TfL engineers consulted during this project, and the staff of the Worcester Historical Museum and the Horniman Museum in London, for their generous help: Ian Rawlings – Transport for London Engineer David Banks – Transport for London Engineer David Lawes – Transport for London Engineer Honor Brady – Transport for London Engineer Bill Wallace – Executive Director, Worcester Historical Museum Vanessa Bumpus – Exhibitions Coordinator, Worcester Historical Museum Christine Beckton – Schools Learning Officer, Horniman Museum Steve Gardam – Learning Division, London Transport Museum Anna Linch – Educator, London Transport Museum Caroline McVay – Curator, London Transport Museum 1 Executive Summary London, England, is experiencing considerable population growth, and its transportation needs are increasing. The need for skilled transportation engineers to manage public transportation, and the importance of a solid STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education curriculum has never been clearer. To help meet