Unpacking the “Toolbox for Museum School Programs”

Unpackingthe“ToolboxforMuseumSchoolPrograms”AproductoftheNovaScotiaMuseum

UNITE2017ConferenceEdmonton,AlbertaSeptember22,2017

Introductions

PresentationTeam:• MaggieMacIntyre,NovaScotiaMuseum’s

Innovation,CollectionsandInfrastructureUnit@maggiesmuseum

• KatherineMacLeod,Learning&MediaSpecialist,BailenanGàidheal|HighlandVillage

@katnicleoid

NovaScotiaMuseum

WerepresenttheNovaScotia

Archives,MuseumsandLibrariesInterpretiveWorkingGroupEducationSub-Committee?

Whoareyou?Let’splayaquickgame.

WorkshopOutcomes

Participantswill…• becomefamiliarwiththe

“ToolboxforMuseumSchoolPrograms”

• seeexamplesofmuseumschoolprogrammingfromNovaScotia

• expandtheirprofessionalnetworkofmuseumeducators.

TheToolboxforMuseumSchoolPrograms

• ThreeyearstodevelopinconsultationwithNSMsitestaff(theusers)andNSDepartmentofEducation

• ReleasedSeptember2015,Re-releasein2018• Availableonlineatmuseum.novascotia.ca/toolbox• Andyougetyourownmini-versiontoday!

What’sintheToolbox?

7modules,eachhas…• CurrentResearchfromthebroadmuseumfield• BestPracticesfromNovaScotia• TrainingActivities

WhatAretheModules?

ModuleOne:WhyFocusonSchoolPrograms?

ModuleTwo:

ModuleThree:GettingtoKnowyourAudience

ModuleFour:ProgramDevelopmentStrategies

ModuleFive:ProgramPresentationStrategies

ModuleSix:WorkingwithPartners&WheretoGetHelp

ModuleSeven:BeyondProgram:OtherWaystoWorkwithSchools

WhatAboutAllThoseAppendices?

DevelopyourPersonalToolboxbyEarningBadges

HistoryDetectives

ModuleOne:WhyFocusonSchoolPrograms?

EarnaBadge:MakingMemories

Making

Memories

1. Rememberwhenyouwereastudent.

2. Drawamemoryofafieldtripyouexperienced.

3. Shareyourmemorywithneighbour.

ModuleTwo:

Thisisaprintableposter!

Programsweremostsuccessfulwhenbasedondevelopingskillsandmeetingcurriculumoutcomes

Teacherscouldnolongerjustifyprogramsbasedsolelyon“fun”oractivitiestheycoulddoatschool.

Artifacts

VincentColeman’sTelegraphKeyMMA,M2004,50.103a

Specimens Props&Reproductions

ArchivalDocuments&Photos IntangibleCulture BuiltHeritageandLandscape

“Good Questions” are Asked.Interpretersaskquestionsthatallowstudentstodiscoveranswersforthemselvesandthinkcriticallyaboutwhattheylearn.

Making

Memories

Considerourfirstbadgeactivity…1. Remember whenyouwereastudent.2. Draw amemoryofafieldtripyou

experienced.3. Share yourmemorywithneighbour.4. Reflect onwhatmakesmemories?

Howtowehelpmakememoriesinourschoolprograms?

Considertheteachersandchaperonesasprogrampartners.• Providethemwithopportunitiestohelpout

andbeinvolved.• Helpcreatehappymemoriesandfuture

museumvisitors.

Museums and Program Partners Work Together.Museumsbuildrelationshipswithteacherandcommunitygroupsinordertomeetspecificneeds.

ModuleFour:ProgramDevelopmentStrategies

ProgramDevelopmentTemplates

“ShutupandWriteit.Andstopyourwhining.Juststopit.”- DonEnright,InterpretivePlanner

EarnaBadge:BuildingBlocksofProgram

Development1. Consideraprogramatyour

museum.2. Usetheprovidedtemplatetostart

writingdownthecontent,outcomes,andlogisticsoftheprogram.

3. Committowritingdownyoursite’sprograms.

ModuleFive:ProgramPresentationStrategies

AcknowledgingDifficultKnowledge

Museumschoolprogramscanbeasafeplacetointroducestudentstosensitivesubjectsincludinginjustice,discrimination,anddeath.Thesestoriesareobviouslychallenging.Additionally,studentsmightbringpriorexperienceswiththemthatrevealunexpecteddifficultknowledgeintopicssuchasfamily,illness,poverty,ornaturaldisasters.(p.82)

PresentingDifficultKnowledge

• Talktoteacherbeforetheprogram.• Preparestudentsbeforeenteringthespaceorstartingthetopic.

Establishbehaviourexpectations.• Acknowledgestudentsareoutoftheircomfortzone– both

physicallyandwiththeinformation.Assurestudentsthatmuseumsareasafelearningenvironment.

• Havean“out”forstudentswhorequireit.

EarnaBadge:EngagementStrategies

GroupDiscussion:Whatdoyousee?Whatdoesthistellyou?

ModuleSix:WorkingwithPartners&WheretoGetHelp

EarnaBadge:CommunityPartners

1. Talktothepersonbesideyou.2. Howcanyousupporteachother?

Howcanyouhelpeachotherimproveschoolprogramsatyourmuseums?

3. Exchangecontactinformationwithplantofollow-upwitheachother.

4. Bonus:Tweetus!

ModuleSeven:BeyondProgram:OtherWaystoWorkwithSchools

EarnaBadge:SupportSchools

1. Consideryourcommunity.2. Lookatthelistprovidedinyour

mini-toolbox.Checkwhichonesyoumightwanttoexplorefurtheratyourmuseum.

DownloadtheFullToolbox

Museum School Program Personal Toolbox

ExpandYourToolboxbyEarningAlltheBadges

Museum School Program Personal Toolbox

This toolbox belongs to:

Gus

KeepinTouchwithUs

• TellusifyouusetheToolbox.Welovehearingstoriesandseeingpictures.

• Findusforacuppa tea(ordrink)duringtheconference.

ContactInformationMaggieMacIntyreNovaScotiaMuseumInnovation,[email protected]@MaggiesMuseum

KatherineMacLeodBailenanGàidheal|HighlandVillageLearning&[email protected]@KatNicLeoid