Museum-Based Learning in Amsterdam

What happens when the city becomes the classroom and museums become spaces for questioning, creativity and dialogue?

This Erasmus+ course explores how museums can support active learning, storytelling, critical thinking, inquiry, citizenship education and cross-curricular teaching. Using Amsterdam as a learning environment, participants discover practical ways to turn museum visits into meaningful educational experiences.

Activity Type: Physical Mobility

1-Week Course for professionals from all Erasmus eligible countries, and from all educational levels.

Learning Outside the Classroom Through Art, Science, History and Citizenship

Museums offer powerful opportunities for learning outside the classroom. They invite learners to observe closely, ask questions, interpret evidence, connect ideas and engage with real objects, stories and places. For educators, museums can become more than cultural visits. They can become active learning spaces that support creativity, critical thinking, communication, collaboration and reflection.

This course helps participants design meaningful museum-based learning activities before, during and after a visit. Through visits to different types of museums in Amsterdam, participants will explore how art, science, history, memory and citizenship can be connected to teaching practice.

The course combines museum visits, practical workshops, group tasks, discussion, reflection and activity design. Participants will learn how to use artworks, exhibitions, objects, personal stories and interactive displays to develop observation, interpretation, questioning, storytelling, inquiry and ethical reflection.

By the end of the course, participants will have a collection of practical methods and activity ideas that can be adapted to their own educational context, whether they work with schools, adult learners, community groups or educational organisations.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

explain the value of museum-based learning and learning outside the classroom
design educational activities before, during and after museum visits
use artworks, objects and exhibitions to develop observation, questioning and interpretation skills
connect museum learning with history, art, science, technology, sustainability and citizenship education
apply storytelling, humour and inquiry-based methods in museum learning
create learner-centred activities that encourage reflection, creativity and critical thinking
adapt museum-based learning strategies to their own educational setting

Erasmus+ museum based learning training for teachers and educators in Amsterdam

Schedule

Day 1 - Course Introduction & Setting Goals

Course Introduction:
- Overview of the course, the school, and the week's activities
- Icebreaking activities
- Identifying your personal and professional strengths
- Introduction to museum-based learning
Setting Goals:
- Identifying needs and goals for each participant and relevant populations
- Discussing 21st-century learners and the current educational landscape in Europe
- Learning outside the classroom: why place, objects and experience matter
- Group discussions and activities

Day 2 - Classical Art Museum

Visit to a classical art museum in Amsterdam
History and storytelling through art
Reading artworks as historical, cultural and emotional sources
Observation and interpretation activities
Using artworks to develop questioning skills
Reflection on how art can support communication, creativity and critical thinking

Day 3 - Science Museum

Visit to a science museum in Amsterdam
Technology in and around the home
Creativity and brainstorming in science learning
Inquiry-based learning through interactive exhibits
Designing questions that guide exploration instead of giving ready-made answers
Reflection on curiosity, experimentation and problem-solving

Day 4 - Dutch Resistance Museum

Visit to the Dutch Resistance Museum
Occupation of the Netherlands and the Dutch resistance
Ethical decision-making and historical empathy
Teaching difficult histories through inquiry, dialogue and reflection
Democracy, human rights and citizenship education
Discussion techniques for sensitive topics
Designing a learning activity connected to memory, choices and civic responsibility

Day 5 - Bringing Museum-Based Learning to Your Own Context

Sharing experiences and best practices among participants
Comparing different approaches to museum-based learning across Europe
Designing a museum-based learning plan for participants’ own schools or organisations
Feedback discussion and self-assessment
Course evaluation
Competency roundup

Day 6 - Course Closure & Cultural Activities

Reflection
Awarding of Certificates of Attendance
Excursion and other cultural activities

Evaluation of Learning Outcomes

Evaluation format:

Continuous assessment on class participation and self-assessment.

Evaluation criteria:

Participation in class debates, reflection and games.

Evaluation procedures:

Attendance, class participation.

Recognition of learning outcomes

Recognition conditions:

80% attendance to the course and class participation.

Recognition procedures:

The participant and the teacher trainer will be both in charge of recognizing the learning outcomes.

Recognition documentation:

Certificate of attendance. If applicable, submit a paper.

Practical Details

Duration: 1 week or 25 academic hours
Schedule: Classes are from Monday to Friday in the morning or in the afternoon. The definite timetable will be sent at least two weeks before the start of the class. Saturday is reserved for Cultural Activities.
Sundays are for arrival and departure.
Note: other durations and schedules can be arranged on demand.
Certification Details: Our organization is duly registered as en Erasmus Teacher Academy, with OID No. E10333486. Therefore, we issue the appropriate Certificates so that your course and trip get fully funded.
Support: Understanding Academy offers full support in terms of Erasmus+ mobilities, but unfortunately we do not provide transport or accommodation.
Fee: €480 Press here to see what is included

Museum entrance fees are not included in the course fee.
For an additional fee of 75 euros, Understanding Academy can organise a Museumkaart for participants. The Museumkaart is valid for one year and gives access to hundreds of participating museums across the Netherlands, so participants can also use it outside the course programme and after the training week. Museum selection may vary depending on availability, opening hours, booking conditions and group arrangements.

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Erasmus+ funding available for eligible participants