Notes from Rome

Bridging AgesInternational Seminar in Historic Environment Education and Time TravelsRome, Italy June 18-20 2006 

The seminar will promote Historic Environment Education and an Exchange of ideas in developing the Time Travel method.Bridging Ages, International Network in Historic Environment Education and Time TravelsIn November 2004 an International Network in Historic Environment Education and Time Travels was formed in Vimmerby, Sweden. Institutions from nine countries: schools, museums and universities from England, Estonia, Latvia, Iceland, Finland, Sweden, Italy, USA and Kenya, participate in the network. The mission of the network is to support and inspire the development of Historic Environment Education and Time Travels. Kalmar County Museum in Sweden is the coordinator. Schools, museums, universities, scholars, historical societiesThe seminar is open to persons who work in schools, museums, universities and anyone who is interested in developing educational methods of learning at local historic sites.The seminar is also a meeting point for the institutions that participate in the network, to present, discuss and inspire each other.

What is Historic Environment Education?It is about learning and local history and to use modern pedagogical methods including all senses and Time Travels. It is a way of spreading the knowledge from the universities and museums to the students and the public. In a Time Travel the students dress up in period costumes and travel back to a certain time period at a local historical site for a day. The method can be used with students of all ages (K-12) but also with the public in tourist events.

Time Travels in Italy
The Association Palatina Istanbul (A.P.I.) is the organizer of the seminar. API was founded for the study of and the promotion of the Great Palace of the Byzantine Emperors in Istanbul, through the study and the archaeological research of the Italian Mission for Archaeology and Restoration (M.I.A.R.), which is the scientific branch of the Association. Historia Magistra Vitae, within the international network Bridging Ages, is now the didactic section, and introduces Historic Environment Education and Time Travels in Italy. During 2002-2005 the association organized several Time Travels for students of different ages at three historical sites: the Palatine, Villa dei Quintilii (Rome) and Farfa’s Abbey.(Rieti). The Time Travels have been arranged with the Kalmar County Museum in Sweden.

Preliminary Program
Sunday June 18 p.m. Opening and presentation. We make a short Time Travel at the medieval abbey of Farfa.
Monday June 19 a.m.Introduction Historic Environment Education, presentations from different countriesp.m Time Travels in Italy In the evening a get-together with food and fun
Tuesday June 20 a.m. How do we develop the Time Travel method? Problems and opportunities.Contributions from different countriesp.m. How do we continue Time Travels in Italy? In other countries? How do we continue the network?

For those who would like to spend an extra day in Rome, there will be an excursion to historical sites in the city on Wednesday June 21st.Organizer of the seminar is Associazione Palatina Istanbul, API, with the International Network in Historic Environment Education and Time Travels. The seminar will be held at the Swedish Institute in Rome, except for the time travel on Sunday afternoon.You are cordially invited to this seminar. There is no seminar fee and the organizer will pay for the expenses of the seminar including accommodation. Travels to the seminar are however not included.
Please sign up before May 14th , by e-mail: eugenia.marta@tiscali.it or by post: Associazione Palatina Istanbul, Eugenia Bolognesi, Corso Italia 29, 00198 Rome, Italy

Welcome
Eugenia Bolognesi Ebbe Westergren