This week’s post is by Amanda Nobis, a junior at Bradley University, and the first Research Intern at the Peoria PlayHouse Children’s Museum. This summer I had the opportunity to help form a collaborative relationship between the Bradley University Psychology Department and the Peoria Playhouse Children’s Museum. I was invited to join the staff ofContinue reading “What happens when parents join their kids in play, exploration and museum conversation?”
Category Archives: Reflection and Evaluation
Schools and Museums: Interview with Sarah Schertz
Sarah Schertz has a Bachelors Degree in Early Childhood Education and Early Childhood Special Education from New York University. She was a part of the 2015 Peoria Playhouse Teacher Team. She teaches kindergarten at Methodist Family Child Care Center in Peoria, IL. Sarah brought her ten five- and six-year-old students to the museum for aContinue reading “Schools and Museums: Interview with Sarah Schertz”
When does the risk of misunderstanding outweigh the value of an activity or program?
Franke L. Smith is an Education Coordinator at Hickory Hill, a Watson-Brown Foundation historic home, near Augusta, Georgia. At the American Alliance of Museums conference in May, Franke and I began a conversation about a program she offers, and whether and why it may be controversial. This program, “Cotton Pickin’ Field Trip,” teaches students about the history ofContinue reading “When does the risk of misunderstanding outweigh the value of an activity or program?”
What are useful ways to think about museum research?
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?”
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 is the role of research in museums’ K-12 programming?
This guest post is from Michelle Grohe. For the past ten years Michelle has been the Director of School & Teacher Programs at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, Massachusetts, where she has overseen the School Partnership, an intensive multiple-experience program with local Boston schools, including in-depth professional development with classroom teachers. Michelle hasContinue reading “What is the role of research in museums’ K-12 programming? “
Status Update: Facebook as a Reflection Tool
The Schools and Museums series has featured a variety of perspectives on what field trips might mean for students. This post, by David Bowles, takes on that question from a slightly different angle, asking what the kids themselves express interest in. David was interviewed for this blog in September. As Assistant Museum Educator for SchoolContinue reading “Status Update: Facebook as a Reflection Tool”
The Business of Museums
In a recent on-line discussion, I found myself enmeshed in a prickly debate about whether museums should be operated as businesses. Some great points were made on the “pro-business” side: museums need income to keep the lights on; getting visitors through the door is essential to generating income both from earned revenue and from funders;Continue reading “The Business of Museums”
Why Should Schools Visit Museums?
A current project of mine calls for a very specific justification of school visits to museums. I believe strongly that school groups should visit museums, and that museums should provide great programs for these groups, despite the fact that the these visits are time-consuming (for schools as well as museums) and expensive. But this project is leading me toContinue reading “Why Should Schools Visit Museums?”
Visitor Feedback, By Blog Post
In our socially networked world, posts about museums make the rounds fast. These posts are often applauded, decried, or laughed at. But they are useful for something more: we can mine these posts for specific ideas about what’s working or not, and use this as a springboard for reflecting on and improving the work weContinue reading “Visitor Feedback, By Blog Post”
Museum Questions 