We talk a great deal about learning from our visitors, so whenever I read something about museums by a non-museum-professional I take note. This description of a day-long teacher workshop at the Cleveland Museum of Art comes from Charles Ellenbogen, who has been teaching for 25 years (thus the name of his blog). In theContinue reading “What do teachers gain from professional development at an art museum?”
Category Archives: Museum Education
What are we communicating to parents through the secret language of seating?
This guest post is by Miriam Leviton, Director of Arts Education at JCC Manhattan. After working at a children’s museum in Berkeley, California, Miriam relocated to New York in 2008 for a year-long position at the Guggenheim’s Learning Through Art program. She later worked as a museum educator at the Guggenheim Museum and New York HistoricalContinue reading “What are we communicating to parents through the secret language of seating?”
How can museums help us (re)learn the art of conversation?
In What is the political role of art education in rural communities? Kate Baird, museum educator at the Springfield Art Museum, explored experiences with art education in conversation with three of her colleagues. In this week’s post, Kate continues sharing her ideas about how museums can play an essential role in cultivating much-needed conversation in ourContinue reading “How can museums help us (re)learn the art of conversation?”
How can we support local networking among museum educators?
This guest post is by Becky Gaugler, an independent Museum Educator in Pittsburgh. In her previous position, Becky managed programs for school and adult groups at Carnegie Museum of Art as an Assistant Curator of Education. A native Pittsburgher, Becky returned to her hometown after coordinating school programs at the Rubin Museum of Art inContinue reading “How can we support local networking among museum educators?”
What is an “Interpreter in Residence?” Interview with Michael Christiano
Michael Christiano is the Interim Senior Director of Museum Programs at the Smart Museum of Art at the University of Chicago. In this role he develops strategies and programs that reflect on the nature of the Museum’s institutional practice, with a particular focus on education, interpretation, engagement, hospitality, installation strategy, and other key issues. When visiting the SmartContinue reading “What is an “Interpreter in Residence?” Interview with Michael Christiano”
What if our school programs didn’t align with curriculum standards?
This guest post is by Claudia Ocello, President & CEO of Museum Partners Consulting, LLC. Claudia has over 25 years’ experience in museums working on exhibitions, education programs, accessibility and evaluation projects. In 2008, Claudia was honored with the Award for Excellence in Practice from the Education Committee of the American Alliance of Museums (2008) and the New Jersey Association ofContinue reading “What if our school programs didn’t align with curriculum standards?”
What is the role of museums in educational change?
Last week I attended “InterActivity,” the annual conference of the Association of Children’s Museum (ACM). This was my first ACM conference, and I learned a great deal from presenters and colleagues. I was impressed by the organization of the conference, ACM staff’s attention to the needs of each conference attendee, and the challenging questionsContinue reading “What is the role of museums in educational change?”
Adults are Learners, Too
This guest post is by Jackie Delamatre, who also wrote the post “But will YOU be here?” for Museum Questions in January 2015. Jackie Delamatre is a museum educator. She teaches all ages (from babies to senior citizens) and runs a blog with the goal of connecting kids, parents, and educators to museums: Ms. Museum. For many yearsContinue reading “Adults are Learners, Too”
What is a “good” science demonstration?
Recently I saw a video of a science demonstration in a children’s museum, and found myself wondering if the children were learning anything. What is the purpose of science demonstrations in museums? And what makes them effective at achieving whatever purpose we assign to them? To address this question I experimented with a first forContinue reading “What is a “good” science demonstration?”
Why can’t the goal of museum field trips be exposure?
Recently I spent a few hours writing a blog post to be submitted to The Whiskey City Collaborative, a local Peoria blog. Originally, this post was an exercise in thinking about how communities can help schools become places that expand children’s worlds, and thus their opportunities, through field trips. As I wrote, I tried to reconcileContinue reading “Why can’t the goal of museum field trips be exposure?”
Museum Questions 