This week’s guest post is by Christine Baron, Assistant Professor Social Studies and Education at Columbia Teachers College. Chris is a former high school history teacher and museum educator, and directed the development of educational and interpretation programs at the Old North Church, Boston. Her research focuses on using museums and historic sites as laboratories for history teacherContinue reading “What are useful ways to think about museum research?”
Author Archives: Rebecca Shulman
Why are children’s museums museums? – Take 2
As I emerge from the chaos of opening a new museum, I am still thinking about the question “Why are children’s museums museums?” which I blogged about in February. In that post I offered three ideas, which grew out of speaking with Barbara Meyerson and Elaine Heumann Gurian, and reading articles by Stephen Weil. In aContinue reading “Why are children’s museums museums? – Take 2”
So many questions, so little time…
Museum Questions is going on a six-week hiatus. It turns out that opening a new museum and producing weekly blog posts are a challenging combination. And really, between now and June 12th, I need to focus on getting the Peoria PlayHouse Children’s Museum open. This is a difficult decision, because there is so much out thereContinue reading “So many questions, so little time…”
Exploring empathy: Research on a hot (but tricky) topic
This post shares a presentation made by Adam Nilsen, Miriam Bader, and myself at the American Alliance of Museums conference last week. Adam Nilsen is a graduate student in Stanford University’s School of Education, where he is studying empathy in a variety of settings, including museum settings. Prior to working on his PhD, Adam was aContinue reading “Exploring empathy: Research on a hot (but tricky) topic”
What type of media is a museum? Interview with Twyla Gibson
For the past year, I have been wondering about Marshall McLuhan’s ideas of “hot” and “cool” media, and how they might apply to museums. Marshall McLuhan was an influential voice in media theory, and thought a great deal about popular culture, and how the dominant media shapes the way we think. (If you aren’t familiarContinue reading “What type of media is a museum? Interview with Twyla Gibson”
Museum of Museums II: How do museums reveal the unknown?
In March I started a “Museum of Museums” on Pinterest. Thank you to readers who suggested additions from Dylan and Collins, as well as the film “Museum Hours.” Here are two more additions, which I share in part because I find them so beautiful. But also because they remind me of the mystical aspects of museums, theContinue reading “Museum of Museums II: How do museums reveal the unknown?”
What management lessons from teaching transfer to the museum?
Anthony Pennay drafted parts of the following post as a comment on my post “Why do we need classroom management in museums?” He had so much to say that I asked if we could delve a little deeper into some of his points. Tony was a classroom teacher for a decade before becoming a museumContinue reading “What management lessons from teaching transfer to the museum?”
Can we control what students learn on museum visits?
This week’s post is by Lisa Gilbert, a doctoral student in education at Saint Louis University. Lisa studies the pedagogical nature of public history spaces as well as ways individuals relate to historical narratives. The National Council for History Education asked Lisa to write a related article for teachers on strategies for making the most of studentContinue reading “Can we control what students learn on museum visits?”
How can museums foster empathy?
The other day my 11-year-old son told me, “Poor people are poor because they don’t try hard enough.” I hope that he said this just to provoke me into debate (like mother like son). But the truth is, I think that empathy is something that he – like many people – struggles with. Intellectual smarts,Continue reading “How can museums foster empathy?”
What is “Classroom Management” in the museum?
On March 2, I blogged about classroom management, and invited readers to complete a (now closed) survey. The 29 completed surveys include a great deal of information worth mining, and I am trying to find a way to share all of the answers with anyone who might want to take a look. A number ofContinue reading “What is “Classroom Management” in the museum?”
Museum Questions 