Centre for Civic Education (CCE) organized a training, on 8 and 9 April in Kolašin, for 25 secondary and primary school teachers from different parts of Montenegro on methods of utilizing museum education in teaching young people and developing their intercultural competences.
The training was conducted by historian Miloš Vukanović, and Vukan Ražnatović, the director of the Museum of King Nikola.
“Such types of training offer educators a better understanding of museum work methods. This refers to the analysis of subjects that can be a source in the study of not only teaching history lessons, but also in the teaching of visual arts, technical subjects, music education and similar fields. Creating narratives from these objects can complement educational units with tangible artifacts. Access to the subject, which is a direct participant in historical events, further motivates children for more active participation in classes. The variety of objects in the collections of the National Museum of Montenegro provides insight into various cultural layers and objects belonging to everyone’s heritage, regardless of their affiliation“ said Vukan Ražnatović, one of the lecturers.
Capacity building of teaching staff in interculturalism is very important in creating a stimulating environment for understanding and respecting different cultures, identities, and perspectives in schools, as well as for developing these competencies in youth.
“As a participant in the training, I had the opportunity to expand my knowledge and skills in creating educational content that promotes interculturality. The lectures focused on the history of museums, museum education, and the collections of the National Museum of Montenegro, while the workshops focused on practical examples of interpretation of multiculturalism and interculturalism and their integration into the teaching curriculum. The practical parts of the training, where we independently created “museum exhibits” based on provided museum objects – photos, were particularly useful. This training was especially inspiring for creating an educational environment that values and respects cultural diversity with a focus on teaching youth,” said Mila Medin, informatics teacher at the Primary School “Mirko Srzentić” in Petrovac and project manager at NGO Society for Cultural Development “Bauo”.
“This training is dynamic and highly beneficial, not only for the professional development of someone coming from the field of fine arts, but also for colleagues from other fields, and I believe for the educators themselves. This is a true example of how interdisciplinary youth education can and should be, how our multicultural environment is an inspiring and inexhaustible source from which we should draw the benefits of togetherness and affirm them as a special value of our region,” stated Irena Vuković, professor of the design group of subjects at Secondary School “Petar Lubarda” in Cetinje.
The training is part of the project “Bridges of Multiculturalism through Museum Education”, implemented by the CCE with the financial support of the Ministry of Human and Minority Rights.
Vasilije Radulović, Programme Associate