Approaches to Representing School History Using School Artifacts

Abstract

In our study, we examined how teachers and students identify, preserve and use artifacts in schools’ interiors and everyday studying life. Our research methods include in-depth interviews, focus groups, survey and expert discussions.Students and teachers interact with artifacts related to educational routine, history, traditions, and values of the school, architectural and interior features of the building. Schools can represent their history by: considering the whole building itself as a historical artifact, preserving interior artifacts, developing new ones, creating school museums, pseudo museums, exhibition spaces, spaces for self-expression, using artifacts in the educational process. Recommendations for representing different artifacts: preservation (historical parts of the building can be fusioned into a modern interior, emphasizing the value of the historical heritage); representation (historical elements can be used as art objects); demonstration (old stationery, diaries, notebooks, awards, personal belongings and the like in the public review); accumulation and integration; creation