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Supporting Family Learning Emerging Research, Strategies, and Tools
Mary Kay Cunningham
Rowanne Henry
Jason Porter
Sarah Watkins
The LIFE Center Lifelong and Lifewide Learning Diagram
• Time together (fun!)
• Social interaction
• Collaborative
• Engagement vs.
basic participation
• Intergenerational
group of 2+ people
• Shared backgrounds
• Lifetime of learning (concepts, facts, attitudes,
beliefs, etc.)
• Customized learning (members understand group’s
learning styles, strengths,
weaknesses)
What is family learning?
How can we
support learning
for this key group
of visitors?
Why families visit?
• Most seeking “educational opportunity”
• Anticipation/expectation of entertainment
• FUN together = learning (espec. true for families)
• Learning = social interaction > facts
• Self-directed (based on preferences & schedule)
Screen Shot 2013-04-26 at 9.09.21 PM
www.familylearningforum.org
Facilitating Family Groups
• Respect knowledge/experience of families
• Observe & respond to roles within group
• Greetings are KEY (Adults are ‘gatekeepers’!)
• Encourage collaboration (challenges) & conversation
• Model questioning & support strategies (“wh-questions”)
• Adults as co-explorers (= learning partners ≠ teachers/observers)
• Extend learning to home environment (car ride, online, etc.)
• Prepare to get out of the way! (intellectually & physically)
Pattison & Dierking, 2012 Journal of Museum
Education
Zimmerman, 2012 Dimensions
Observable Adult Roles in Families
• Player
• Facilitator
• Interpreter
• Supervisor
• Student of the
child
• Co-learner
Boston Children’s Museum Adult Child Inventory (ACII)
What lessons are
here about how
family groups want
to engage?
Prototype Family Learning Strategies
“Does this idea suck?”
• Iterative & Quick
• Minimum viable product
• There are no mistakes
in a prototype
(we learn more from our
mistakes than what works)
• Testing ≠ answers
(Testing = better questions!)
4 Best Practices for Family Learning
By Rowanne Henry, PhD
twitter: @rowannehenry
#familylearning
museumstories.com
Noah’s Ark
Skirball Cultural Center, Los Angeles
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Noah’s Ark Family Visitor Evaluation
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• What are the main messages family
visitors takeaway from their Noah’s Ark
experience?
• How are family visitors accessing these
messages?
Who are Family Visitors?
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Family Visitors in Action
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4 Best Practices for Families
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1. Give families options
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Options: Multiple Modalities
Noah’s Ark Exhibition, Skirball L.A.
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Options: Educational Spaces
Railroad Exhibition’s Ed Gallery
Railroad Exhibition
The Quest for a Railroad Across America, The Huntington
Options: Accessible Exhibition Features
museumstories.comAncient Sicily, Getty Villa
Options: On-Demand Gallery Hosts
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Futbol: The Beautiful Game, LACMA
4 Best Practices for Families
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1. Offer families options
2. Make the setting work for you
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The museum environment is
always saying something….
…even when you are not.
Setting: What does this say?
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Setting: look closely
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The Life of Art, Getty Museum
Setting: Families + Educator Dialogue
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Look Together, Hammer Museum
Setting: Child + Educator Dialogue
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Look Together, Hammer
Museum
4 Best Practices for Families
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1. Offer families options
3. Communicate the big picture
2. Make the setting work for you
Big Picture: Prep families for learning
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Noah’s Ark Orientation Talk
Big Picture: Group Discussions
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Look Together, Hammer Museum
4 Best Practices for Families
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1. Offer families options
3. Communicate the big picture
2. Make the setting work for you
4. Provide opportunities for reflection
Reflect: Formal Evaluation
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“The survey really got us
thinking.”Noah’s Ark Family Visitor
Reflect: Informal Conversations
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Reflect: Embedded Evaluation
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Family Dynamic, LACMA
Conclusion
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1. Offer families options
3. Communicate the big picture
2. Make the setting work for you
4. Provide opportunities for reflection
Supporting Intergenerational & Family Learning– WMA 2014
Jason Porter, Associate Director of Education, Skirball Cultural Center
[email protected] #porterlyle 310-440-4746
Agenda
1. Shifting from a
programmatic model to
family learning focus
2. A rationale for making
this shift
3. Tools and resources on
family learning
4. “Keys” to shifting staff
Noah’s Ark at the Skirball
The Evolution of Family Learning
in Noah’s Ark
The value
of values.
The process (SSUPR, aka SUPER!)
1. Visitor study and its findings (Study)
2. Sharing meaningful data (Share)
3. Utilize resources (Utilize)
4. Prioritize attainable steps
(Priority setting)
5. Instituting a process for reflection
(Reflect)
Learning about
Family Learning
Putting SSUPR into Practice: Study and Share
- Some programs are less effective than others
- Families were not aware that the galleries were a learning space
- Staff reluctance
- Program clarity around learning
Putting SSUPR into
Practice: Utilizing
Family Learning
Resources
• Exploring Staff Facilitation that Supports Family Learning,
JME, Spring 2012
• Boston Children’s Museum Adult Child Interaction Inventory
• Conner Prairie Opening Doors video series
• Family Learning Forum
• NISE Team-Based Inquiry Guide (Nanoscale Informal
Science Education)
Putting SSUPR into Practice: : Prioritizing1. Training
2. Adapting existing programs
3. Developing new programs
Putting SSUPR into Practice: Reflective Practice1. Staff observations of families
2. Program evaluations using video and observation
3. Reflective practice
* Clarify learning
* Observe and listen
* A spirit of inquiry
* Define what makes you unique
* Make yourselves experts
* Look to the field
* Reflect on your work
Keys to Transforming Staff to Support Family Learning
What are your strategies?
Engage FamiliesLooking at family programs in a new light
A project of the USS Constitution Museum, Boston
Family Programs Engaging All Ages
Facilitation
Environment
Program Design
Program Topic
When selecting topics for family programs
consider:
t Distinctiveness
t Personal relevance
Program Topic
To enhance family engagement design programs
that are:
• Fun
• Multi-modal
• Multi-user
• Multi-outcome
Program Design
Family engagement is enhanced when the
physical environment is:
• Comfortable for all
• Multi- Sided
• Without too many distractions
Environment
Facilitators engaging families should:
• Be welcoming and encouraging
• Consciously and continually engage
adults
• Convey content in concise &
accessible ways
• Be nimble
• Have fun!
Facilitation
• Build connections
• Make memories
• Support life long learning
• Expand audiences
• Encourage repeat
visitation
• Strengthen communities
• Generate revenue
Family Programs Engaging All Ages
Utilizing Video as Professional &
Programmatic Development Tool
Remember: videos are most successful when used as a
learning tool for the observer (self-reflection)
rather than as an assessment of those in video!
Video Reflection Tool:
Visitor group:
What did you notice about visitor group? (interaction?, engagement?)
Role of Adult:
How were they involved/participating? Role?
(observing vs. co-learner?)
Facilitator:
How did educator help/hinder engagement?
Overall:
What worked well?
What would you do differently?
We have
resources
for you!
Questions??
Mary Kay Cunningham [email protected]
Rowanne Henry [email protected]
Jason Porter [email protected]
Sarah Watkins [email protected]
