--- Jill <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> Please read it for a practical and wise explanation of why one does, in
> fact, need to be a subject area expert in order to teach.

For those who haven't or can't read the article, Ms. Mentor answers a question
from a person who wants to teach at a community college but doesn't want to get
an MA or PhD in the subject matter.

For advanced HS and up, I'd definitely agree that you should have an advanced
degree in the subject matter in order to teach. On that level, the amount of
detail you will be teaching would only be truly understood by someone who has
had advanced coursework in the subject.

But as I pointed out in my post, most museum education is done on the K-12 -
elementary to high school level. While I think all educators should constantly
be learning about their subject matter and advanced coursework is a way to do
it, you also have to understand that probably 90% of that knowledge will never
be used when dealing with the public and especially with children.

And on the flip side, having advanced degrees doesn't mean that you can teach
either. I work as an education specialist with subject matter experts to
develop advanced coursework. Some people have a natural talent to teach and do
pretty well getting the basics of a course developed. Some should never step
foot in a classroom. It's rare to find someone who is equally gifted with both
teaching and being a subject expert. My job comes in with not developing or
correcting content but making sure that the content, activities and evaluations
accurately reflect course goals and objectives. (Otherwise known as, "Do not
abuse Powerpoint". :)

So if I was looking to hire someone to develop and lead school museum education
programs, I'd pick someone with a strong education background and little
subject matter expertise over someone with a strong subject matter expertise
and little education background. Museums will always have subject matter
experts around. They don't always have good educators.

deb

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