We are pleased to announce the inauguration of a new EdCom award! *The Award for Innovation in Museum Education* This new award recognizes, encourages, and celebrates innovation in museum education. The award will go to either an individual or team in conjunction with a program, resource, or media piece. It may include a museum program done in the community inside or outside the museum walls. We define innovation as a new technology, practice, or methodology, or repurposing of an old or existing method or practice. Programs and projects that clearly address one or more of the challenges cited in the Center for the Future of Museums’ “Building the Future of Education: Museum and the Learning Ecosystem <http://www.aam-us.org/docs/default-source/center-for-the-future-of-museums/building-the-future-of-education-museums-and-the-learning-ecosystem.pdf?sfvrsn=2>” or respond to broad trends in education and museum education (either in the K-12 world or learning for adults, seniors, or pre-K audiences) will be given special consideration. This inaugural award will be presented during the EdCom luncheon at the American Alliance of Museums 2016 Annual Meeting <http://www.aam-us.org/events/annual-meeting>. Nominations are now open from now until January 31, 2016. <https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1vFjER8n4ffOp2A6y9nGExh5vwq9ceg2yNARilUi4ev8/viewform> *Nominations have also opened for the EdCom Excellence Awards* · The Award for Excellence in Practice <http://www.aam-us.org/about-us/grants-awards-and-competitions/excellence-in-practice> recognizes an individual whose contributions may be through teaching, program development, community organizing, writing, research, and/or professional activities. Awardees meet, establish, and promote the highest professional standards and are recognized as leaders in their field. Eligible nominees will be knowledgeable, demonstrate creativity, and succeed in stretching the boundaries defining the parameters of good practice. Nominations due January 31, 2016 <https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1iSaAiAjxnKh1hMDh9-cXtUnPUpN81GnXKOi-NBQm0p4/viewform> . · The Award for Excellence in Programming <http://www.aam-us.org/about-us/grants-awards-and-competitions/award-for-excellence-in-programming> recognizes programs with clearly articulated goals, designed to achieve the goals with the intended audiences, have concrete evidence of success, have been presented three consecutive years, and reflect institutional commitment. Nominations due January 31, 2016 <https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1aQfNKaF5Iqa9kWlLXKMHg9w_7Fj4hqqiii3nuCs0h5M/viewform> . · The Award for Excellence in Resources <http://www.aam-us.org/about-us/grants-awards-and-competitions/excellence-in-resources> recognizes outstanding resources in print or print/multimedia formats that show meaningful audience, reflect best practices in education theory, and demonstrate creativity in design.Nominations due January 31, 2016 <https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1flaf3yD5_L3w815JfDZrt3aboAJiKTRcb0IJzjTdPa0/viewform> . Additionally, the John Cotton Dana Award for Leadership <http://www.aam-us.org/about-us/grants-awards-and-competitions/john-cotton-dana-award> is still accepting nominations, but will be closing nominations on December 13, 2015 <https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1FUkcmMCA5_u3gJY1_2znkD94-1DxJNJQTZMIILD_Ji4/viewform?c=0&w=1>. This award recognizes an individual, other than someone working directly with museum education programs, for efforts on behalf of public education and community service. Questions about the awards or the nomination process can be sent to Claudia Ocello ([log in to unmask]), Co-Chair, EdCom Leadership Development and Awards. Timothy Rhue II Chair, Communications EdCom, American Alliance of Museums <http://www.aam-us.org/resources/professional-networks/edcom/resources> ========================================================= Important Subscriber Information: The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes). If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).