I'll throw in my two cents worth.  I agree that museum education is that
which both Brian and Cecelia have mentioned.  I also think it is more.

To me, museum education is a way of thinking that puts the visitor, the
museum's audience, first.  We are the people who should be advocating
for the public within our institutions.   This includes (but is in no mean
limited to) being up to speed with current audience research that's going
on in museums; being the ones who work with curators and exhibit
designers to make sure our exhibits communicate well and effectively;
being able to keep the needs of a variety of diverse groups (students,
teachers, families, seniors, community groups, underrepresented
audiences, various stakeholders, etc.) in mind and reminding the rest of
the museum staff that we serve these people; and yes, it includes
educating the public about "the museum" --what museums do and their
purpose, why they are important and how they enrich peoples lives.  This
isn't necessarily done in an overt way, but should come across through all
of our endeavors.

Those are my thoughts for the morning.

Keni Sturgeon
Jensen Arctic Museum

----- Original Message -----
From: Brian Bray <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Wednesday, June 12, 2002 9:36 am
Subject: Re: Definition of Museum Education

> My thinking is along the same track as Cecelia's. I have developed
> programsthat are not tied directly to our museums simply because
> there was a need.
> Yes, educators need to have programs that cover the policies, but
> in my
> opinion museum educators need to be more of a resource for
> teachers and the
> general public. Our job is to educate the pubic! That might mean
> talkingabout the perm. exhibits in the museum or developing
> "traveling trunks" on
> topics that teachers have always wanted to know more about, but
> did not have
> the time/resources to do so.
>
>
> Brian W. Bray
> Director of Education
> Texarkana Museums System
> [log in to unmask]
> 903-793-4831 (w)
> 903-793-7108 (fax)
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Cecelia Ottenweller <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Wednesday, June 12, 2002 11:02 AM
> Subject: Re: Definition of Museum Education
>
>
> > I can see that, but is it really about educating the public about
> > "the museum" or about what the museum is about?? As a member of
the
> > public, I'm not going to a museum to find out about their
> policies. I
> > could care less. I DO care, however, about that fabulous Diplodocus
> > in the main hall, how it was built, where it was dug up, the science
> > of digging up, the wonderful characters who dug it up, whether
> all of
> > it is actually bone and how casts are made. Then, I want my children
> > to have an intimate, engaging, out of the box experience learning
> > about that diplodocus in a way that expands their life.
> >
> > That's Museum education to me. It's the wonderful part of education,
> > not the dry crap. As for looking for someone with an education
> > background for a position, that's fine, but an education background
> > and a museum education background are often very different
> paradigms.>
> > Just my two cents.
> >
> > Cecelia Ottenweller
> >
> >
> > --- "Bodman, James" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> > > Shirley,
> > >
> > > In my opinion, museum education means what it says.  Educating
the
> > > general
> > > public about a museum's policies, museum's collections, museum's
> > > exhibitions, and museum's special programs.  Generally, the
> > > functions range
> > > from writing docent learning materials to traveling to schools in
> > > the area
> > > to educate children on a collection.  This is why a museum
> look for
> > > a person
> > > with an education background to hold this position.
> > >
> > > Jim
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Shirley Brown [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> > > Sent: Wednesday, June 12, 2002 10:29 AM
> > > To: [log in to unmask]
> > > Subject: Definition of Museum Education
> > >
> > >
> > > Hello,
> > >
> > > What is Museum Education? I have been asking myself this
question
> > > for the
> > > past few weeks and my definition has changed with research in
> > > learning
> > > theories, teaching styles, etc. I would like to ask everyone what
> > > is your
> > > own personal definition of Museum Education? Why is Museum
> > > Education
> > > special?
> > >
> > > Why am I doing this? I am fine tuning my definition of museum
> > > education for
> > > myself, and to see where I really want to go in the field.
> > >
> > > Thank you.
> > >
> > > Sincerely,
> > >
> > > Shirley Brown
> > >
> > > Email Address: [log in to unmask]
> > >
> > >
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