Derby Museums will be opening its new Museum of Making in the spring and at the heart of it will be a fantastic new resource for teachers and educators across Derbyshire and beyond. In order to give those working in education a sneak preview before it opens to the public, educators will be able to book onto a free, virtual event this March.

This will be a fantastic first-chance opportunity to discover all that the Museum of Making, on the site of the world’s first modern factory, has to offer to educators, and learners of all ages, as well as find out about the newly created Institute of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths) and associated learning programmes, studios, workshops and galleries. 

Hosted by Derby Museums on Tuesday 23 March 5.30-7.30pm via Zoom, this event is free and easy to book now via Eventbrite . It is part of a series of free bi-monthly ‘STEAM Sessions’, hosted by Derby Museums and supported by Rolls-Royce and the National Lottery Great Place Scheme.

As well as providing a fantastic opportunity to hear all about the new resources on offer at the Museum of Making, attendees will also hear from a range of speakers including Daniel Charny Co-founder & Director of Fixperts, the think-and-do-tank that is all about inspiring and equipping young people to be creative, ingenious and problem-solvers around the world.

Derby Museums will also be unveiling its new Institute of STEAM (IoS) partnership with Rolls-Royce. The IoS will be providing the opportunity for learners of all ages to develop 21st Century skills for learning, work and society using inquiry-based and critical thinking to help them thrive in the future in an uncertain world.

Attendees at the online preview will be able to find out about the wealth of different education support on offer which includes:

  • Brand new facilitated learning sessions for key stages 1, 2, 3 and SEND groups.
    These sessions will enable children and young people to learn about the significance of the Silk Mill, the story of the site widely regarded as the world’s first modern factory, and its amazing collection of 30,000 objects. Learners will discover stories linked to the city of Derby, its remarkable people and its global connections. They will also explore wonderful innovations of makers past and present, and imagine how as young people they will be able to influence the world as makers of the future. All sessions will be cross-curricula, hands-on and engaging for learners, supporting teaching across various areas of the national curriculum.
  • A range of ‘in my school’ learning opportunities. 
    These will include digital learning sessions, facilitated live online for key stages 1 to 3. These will also include enrichment programmes for key stages 3 and 4, brought to your school via our mobile Makory.
  • School holiday ‘FixCamp’ events
    These events will bring young people together to design, make and innovate using an array of tools and materials, developing key STEAM skills including creativity, collaboration and practical making.
  • Opportunities for Further Education & Higher Education students

This will include induction events, live brief projects, work placements and volunteering across Derby Museums, including the new Museum of Making.

  • Early years play-based learning sessions as part of the Public Programme we will have a number of activities including STEAM Babies and STEAM Tots.
  • Lifelong learning sessions as part of the Public Programme we will be including fascinating workshops, courses and tours.
  • Free booking of self-guided entry to MoM, as well as reduced price entry to special exhibitions and affordable facilitated sessions.
  • Opportunities to collaborate with us on future projects.

 Andrea Mercer, Head of Learning and Participation, Derby Museums said:

Derby is well known as a city of makers and our city’s history is full of innovation, creativity and advances in technology and engineering, which is something we want to harness and make sure is continued by our future generations.

That is why the education programme for The Museum of Making is so important, It celebrates the past but also looks to the future and we hope combined with the new Institute of STEAM it will inspire young people to create, achieve and become the innovators, makers and creators of the future.

Gill Fennell, Community Investment Manager, Rolls-Royce, said:

We are very proud to be part of Derby’s rich history of industry, manufacturing and engineering. Partnering with the Museum of Making on the Institute of STEAM is an exciting opportunity to encourage young people to explore STEM, challenge their creative minds and nurture skills to drive future innovation. We want children and young people to be inspired by Derby’s past and to see that they can be the engineers and scientists developing a more sustainable future.