FORUM - Research and resources for museum education

Ford Education Center Summative Evaluation

2009-10-02T14:40:00.000-04:00

(USA)

Research questions: The Ford Education Center (FEC) summative evaluation combines observation, computer usage data, and face-to-face interviews to document visitor use and learning outcomes focusing around three questions: Who uses the FEC and why? What is the nature and extent of visitors’ engagement with the FEC? What do visitors take away from their experience of the FEC?

Data presentation: The full report can be downloaded from the National postal Museum’s website at: http://www.postalmuseum.si.edu/museum/Ford_Education_Center_Summative_Evaluation.pdf

Principal researcher: Jill Stein from the Institute for Learning Innovation

Site: Smithsonian Institution National Postal Museum, Washington, DC

Time span: February-September 2009

Contact: Aurelie Henry, project manager at the National Postal Museum: henrya@si.edu

From sail to steam: objects, local identity and narratives in the Maritime Museum of Andros island

2009-10-02T14:39:00.000-04:00

(Greece)

Project: Researching the maritime tradition of Andros island with the purpose of collecting data for the re-interpretation of local maritime history in the museum and the production of educational material for the school community

Research questions: How can we approach the maritime past in the museum space?

How can we represent local maritime identities through the medium of exhibitions? How the data will be presented:

1) Museological plan proposal for an exhibition at the Maritime Museum of Andros

2) Educational resources for use by the local school community (both in the museum space and the classroom)

Principal researchers: Dr Anastasia Filippoupoliti, museologist; Helen Beneki, maritime historian.

Sites: Archive research (local archival records, private and company archives in England, Romania and Greece), interviews

Time span: 2 years

Contact: Dr Anastasia Filippoupoliti, Lecturer in museum education, Department of Education Sciences in Preschool Age, Democritus University of Thrace (Greece), e-mail: afilipp@gmail.com ; Helen Beneki, Maritime historian, Head of Research & Communication Department, Piraeus Bank Group Cultural Foundation, Athens, Greece, e-mail: BenekiE@piraeusbank.gr

Museum Educators and Learning Communities

2009-10-02T14:38:00.000-04:00

(USA)

Research questions: To what extent do museum educators believe they belong to a learning community? To what extent do museum educators include as part of their regular practice: mentoring, self-reflection, diagnostic assessment of their teaching, researched-based collaboration, job-embedded professional development, discussion of and contribution to current museum and museum education literature, and use data to drive their curricular or interpretive program development?

Data presentation: Report suitable for publication

Principal researcher: Tina Nolan

Sites: I will be collecting survey data from museum educators across the US and Canada who participate in museum education list serves.

Time span: July 2009 - September 2009

Contact: Tina.Nolan@nl.edu

A comparative analysis of the use of museum’s online learning-sites in classrooms: a case study of Victoria and Albert Museum in London and National P

2009-10-02T14:37:00.000-04:00

(Taiwan and England)

Research Questions: How do museums’ learning sites contribute and affect to current school education? How do schoolteachers make the most of this type of online museum resource for delivering national curriculum? What are schoolteachers’ challenges when using these sites in a classroom context?

Data presentation: This is a doctorial thesis (University of Leeds, UK). I am also interested in submitting part of the research results as journal articles and as conference papers.

Researcher: Yi-Shan Lu

Site: Taiwan and England

Time span: Fieldwork: June and October 2009; Project due to complete in September/October 2010

Contact Information: yishan.lu@hotmail.com

Internship Project - Leo Burger Immigrant's Trunk, Early Childhood Education

2009-08-18T10:00:00.001-04:00

(USA)

Project: Creating early childhood lesson plans using the existing materials in the Leo Burger Immigrant's trunk along with developing new age appropriate activities.

Presentation: The trunk will be used in preschool and pre-kindergarten classrooms in Baltimore, Maryland.

Intern: Amanda Schubert

Contact: Amanda Schubert, Jewish Museum of Maryland: Education Department Intern aschube1@jhu.edu

Internship Project - The Synagogue Speaks!

2009-08-18T09:59:00.001-04:00

(USA)

Project: What exhibits can we create to engage children of various ages and backgrounds in the varied history of the Lloyd Street Synagogue? How can we differentiate exhibit activities to ensure that people of all ages are enjoying their museum experience at all times?

Presentation: exhibit interactives on display: walls, discovery tables, games, artifacts, audio and visual displays, manipulatives, scavenger hunt.

Interns: Anita Kassof, Deb Weiner, Jennifer Vess, Deborah Cardin, Lauren Silberman.

Site: The Jewish Museum of Maryland, Baltimore MD.

Time span: planning: July-August 2009, exhibit to open March 21, 2009.

Contact: Heather Lirette, intern, (517) 414-8913 or heatherlirette@hotmail.com .

Internship Project - iAfrica: Connecting with Sub-Saharan Art

2009-08-18T09:58:00.002-04:00

(USA)

Project: This is an exhibition that is experimenting with various ways of displaying and explaining African art, which is sourced from the permanent collection. The exhibition is exploring different methods of display, varying amounts of information, use of various technologies. Integral to the exhibition is feedback and involvement of different audiences about the exhibition.

Intern: Kristen Olsen & Education and Interactive Media department staff.

Site: Minneapolis Institute of Arts

Time span: As an intern, I will be working in the development from June 09 through the end of August 09. The exhibition, however, opens Saturday, October 3, 2009 and runs through Monday, April 5, 2010.

Contact: Kristen Olson, kristen.olson@gmail.com (intern) and Kate Johnson, Chair, Education Division, kjohnson@artsmia.org

Internship Project - Trail of Tears background information

2009-08-18T09:57:00.001-04:00

(USA)

Project: Working to create a framework in which the Education Dept at The Hermitage will develop an on-site, hands-on education program regarding the Trail of Tears

Presentation: Presented in Word document / Power Point for classroom

Intern: Katie Yenna; Evaluator: James Yasko

Site: Conducted at The Hermitage, Home of President Andrew Jackson

Time span: June-August 2009

Contact: James Yasko, Director of Education – The Hermitage, Home of President Andrew Jackson; jyasko@thehermitage.com

Internship Project - Collectors’ Corner Neighborhood Trading Post

2009-08-18T09:56:00.003-04:00

(USA)

Project: Research and develop reference materials and teaching tools for volunteers staffing the Collectors’ Corner Neighborhood Trading Post, a pilot project of the Science Museum of Minnesota partnering with libraries.

Presentation: Volunteers work with young people coming to the program to trade items from nature for points, based on trader knowledge and type of object. Eric Harkleroad, CCNTP summer intern and U of Minnesota graduate student, is creating materials for volunteers focusing on the most commonly traded natural items. Materials developed include laminated question cards, riker boxes of labeled object samples, and topical e-mails and handouts which are being evaluated by the volunteer facilitators and the CCNTP team:

Interns: Maija Sedzielarz, Project Lead; Julie Marckel, Project Coordinator; and Eric Harkleroad, CCNTP intern.

Intern Project Time Span: June 2009 – August 2009; Project Time Span: June 2009 – December 2010

Contact: Maija Sedzielarz, Project Lead, Science Museum of Minnesota, 120 West Kellogg Blvd.

St. Paul, MN 55102 651-221-4554 msedzielarz@smm.org www.smm.org/tradingposts

Internship Project - Gorilla Touch Table

2009-08-18T09:55:00.001-04:00

(Canada)

Project: General Research: Gorillas are different than humans but also alike, how? Research of gorillas, primatology, and life in areas near where gorillas live.

Audience Research: What would you like to learn about Gorillas? What would you like to see in this space? What are some misconceptions about gorillas?

Presentation: Our presentation will be through public interactive activities as well as a volunteer training manual.

Interns: Bonnie Dingwall, Fleming College, Museum Management and Curatorship Program; Cara Culkin, University of Toronto, Masters in Museum Studies

Site: All research and design took place at the Toronto Zoo.

Time Span: May 11, 2009 to August 14, 2009.

Contact: bonnie.dingwall@gmail.com

Internship Project - Museum Exhibit of Assistive Technology

2009-08-18T09:54:00.001-04:00

(USA)

Project: The purpose of this exhibit is to visually show a timeline of assistive technology for the past three decades during Easter Seals Crossroads’ convention in August. Information presented will explain how assistive technology for people with disabilities such as blindness, autism, or other impairments has significantly improved to make daily living and employment easier.

Presentation: Twenty technology objects will be chosen for the exhibit, which will be shown on August 7, 2009 at the Indianapolis Convention Center. The conference is free and open to the public.

Intern: Sara Croft

Site: Easter Seals Crossroads in Indianapolis, IN

Time Span: June 2009-August 2009

Contact Information: Sara Croft, scroft@eastersealscrossroads.org

Internship Project - The Sky's The Limit

2009-08-18T09:53:00.001-04:00

Canada)

Project: Researching and developing activities connected to the Ontario Elementary & Secondary School Science curriculum to supplement the development of a travelling exhibition on 19th century astronomy.

Presentation: The research will evolve into hands-on activities, games, and teachers’ resource materials etc.

Intern: Nicole Rebry, Eva Brook Donly Museum

Evaluators: members of the public. These activities will be introduced and tested by the public at various festivals & events in Norfolk County over the summer of 2009.

Contact: Eva Brook Donly Museum, 109 Norfolk St. S. Simcoe, ON N3Y 2W3 519-426-1583

www.norfolklore.com

National Survey: Prevalence of Interdepartmental Collaboration and Constructivism in Art Museums

2009-08-18T09:49:00.001-04:00

(USA)

Research questions: This research seeks to examine how the collaborative approach to exhibition development affects the visitor experience in art museums. Initially three case studies were examined to understand how collaboration is initiated and its relative advantages and disadvantages as an exhibition development approach. This study will broaden the scope of this research.

Data presentation: The data from this survey will be presented in a summary report. Ultimately I would like this report, along with my masters project and a resource website for constructivist techniques to be presented at an AAM panel discussion in 2010. Additionally, I will be submitting a summary of this content to the NAME Journal for their Spring 2010 issue.

Principal researcher: I will be crafting and evaluating the survey with the assistance of professional evaluator Chris Parsons.

Site: This research project will fulfill my final internship units and is being conducted independent of any museum. It is a companion to my masters research project: Collaborative Constructivism: A Case for Interdepartmental Exhibition Development in Art museums. The research looks at the collaborative and constructivist activities in three case studies.

Time span: The instrument is being crafted now, the survey will go out mid August and a final report will be written in mid September.

Contact: For any questions or to volunteer to receive this survey or contribute your constructivist or other forward thinking educational techniques, I can be reached at matthew.isble@gmail.com

eMotion - mapping museum experience

2009-08-18T09:46:00.001-04:00

(Switzerland)

Research questions: How do visitors to an art exhibition react in front of artworks? While tracking them in the exhibition, their skin reactivity and heartbeat are measured as signs of emotional and cognitive activity. What are the factors influencing their behaviour and their perception of art? Is it the art itself or its context that matters?

Data presentation: The data is processed live into an artwork (sound and visual installation) during the field research. Several articles have already been published to present the project. The results will be published in further articles (most of them according to the discipline of the researchers) as well as in a common report. Whether this report will be online, a published book or a symposium is still open.

Principal researchers: Martin Troendle, Steven Greenwood (both at the University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland), Wolfgang Tschacher (University of Bern), Volker Kirchberg (Leuphana University Lueneburg), Stéphanie Wintzerith (freelance evaluation and visitor research), Karen van den Berg (Zeppelin University Fridrichshafen), Sybille Omlin (University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland), Chandrasekhar Ramakrishnan (Federal Institute of Technology Zurich).

Research site: Kunstmuseum St. Gallen (Art Museum St. Gallen), Switzerland

Time span: Field work: June 4th till July 19th 2009, end of project January 2010

Contact: martin.troendle@fhnw.ch and swi@wintzerith.de www.mapping-museum-experience.com

Do you remember? Memories as experiences and Heritage Learning

2009-07-07T10:37:00.000-04:00

(Denmark)

Questions: With inspiration from experiments at the Open Air Museum in Århus, Denmark called “The Old Town” the memory work with elderly people when they re-visit environments of their childhood and youth will be carried out in a structured and controlled form at three Open Air Museums in Northern Sweden.

Data presentation: The plan includes a formal project report and a conference paper to be presented at the spring conference February 2011 at The Nordic Centre for Heritage Learning in Östersund, Sweden.

Principal researcher: Professor Yngve Gustafsson, Umeå University, Sweden

Sites: At the Open Air Museums:

- Jamtli (Östersund, Sweden)

- Murberget (Härnösand, Sweden)

- Gammlia (Umeå, Sweden)

Time span: September 2009 – August 2011

Contact: Project coordinator: Britt-Marie Borgström (Jamtli): britt-marie.borgstrom@jamtli.com

SILVER - Semantic Interactive Learning Visualisation Environment Research

2009-07-07T10:35:00.001-04:00

Questions: How can technology best serve education in its numerous forms? Specifically, how can technology aid learning activities in the classroom? For example, how might software aid a teacher in the delivery of a learning activity, such as 'Citizenship' or 'Environmental Sustainability'?

Data presentation - The SILVER team is experimenting with different 'visualisations', methods for outputting data in tangible form to end-users. Visualisations include diagrams, charts, timelines etc.

Principal Researchers: SILVER is a consortium of 3 partners, Lexara (technology partner), Bridgeman Art Library (content partner), and KMI (reasoning partner). All 3 organisations are investigating a broad array of issues related to technology in education. Evaluation happens in focus groups (with teachers) and in the classroom with both teachers and students.

Sites: The SILVER website contains up to date news on SILVER research - www.silvereducation.org

Contact: SILVER Manager - Brian Kavanagh - brian@briankavanagh.com

The use of art and culture images in higher education courses

2009-05-27T10:15:00.000-04:00

(UK)

Research questions: The project aims at contributing towards the development of a digital art, history and culture image library for the education sector and, specifically, at improving access to universities and scholars. The main objective is the development of educational user requirements to meet their needs and the implementation of a pilot system, which includes the software, metadata and digital imaging, facilitating the enhancement of the education service.

Data presentation: Report to The Bridgeman Art Library and to the University of the Arts. Papers will be published in peer-reviewed journals, promotional literature will be forwarded to trade newsletters, and pages will be published in the company’s website.

Principal researchers: Kalliopi Vacharopoulou (KTP Associate), Pandora Mather-Lees (Managing Director, The Bridgeman Art Library), David Penfold (Senior Lecturer, London College of Communication)

Sites: The Bridgeman Art Library Limited and London College of Communication, University of the Arts London

Time span: The project initiated in July 2008 and will finish in January 2010

Contact: Kalliopi Vacharopoulou kalliopi.vacharopoulou@bridgemanart.co.uk

Formative Evaluation: Citizen Science Program

2009-05-27T10:14:00.000-04:00

(USA)

Research questions: To what extent do participants:

§ Use and comprehend the scientific method (including rigor) during the program?

§ Develop a sense of pride/ownership over the reserve?

§ Understand how the research will impact decisions made about the nature reserve?

§ With varying levels of commitment to the program experience and understand it differently?

Data presentation: Report for the Conservation Trust of Puerto Rico

Principal evaluator: Randi Korn & Associates, Inc.

Site: Hacienda La Esperanza in Manití, Puerto Rico

Time span: March - May 2009

Contact: info@randikorn.com

CONTACT: Communicating Organizations in Networks of Art and Culture Technologies

2009-05-27T10:13:00.000-04:00

(Norway)

Research questions: CONTACT will explore education and communication practices in art and cultural history museums through the design of participatory media and innovative communication services. The funding of CONTACT establishes education and communication practices in museums as a distinct and interdisciplinary field of research in Norway.

CONTACT has the following objectives:

* Primary objective: To investigate innovative ICT-based communication practices within museums that are related to mediating art and culture to the public, particularly young people.

* Secondary objective: To explore design approaches and services that support communication and meaning making within various types of museums and cultural heritage organizations and with the public.

* Secondary objective: To develop perspectives on transformations of communication practices in museums and cultural heritage institutions related to digital cultural heritage.

Principal Researchers: Dr. Palmyre Pierroux, Dr. Dagny Stuedahl, InterMedia, University of Oslo

CONTACT will collaborate with the National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design, the Museum of Cultural History (UiO) and the Norwegian Cultural Heritage Association to investigate the innovative use of digital representations and network technologies in engaging audiences in art and cultural heritage.

Time span: June 2009-20013

Contact: Palmyre Pierroux, Postdoc, InterMedia, University of Oslo, PO Box 1161 Blindern

0318 Oslo tel: +47 22 84 07 37 palmyre.pierroux@uv.uio.no http://www.intermedia.uio.no/display/Im2/CONTACT

Knowledge Transitions from the Continuing Professional Education Classroom to the Workplace (working title)

2009-05-27T10:12:00.000-04:00

(Canada)

Research Question: This project explores the experiences of graduates of the Cultural Resource Management Program (University of Victoria) as they seek to apply their learning in museums and other cultural heritage workplaces. Through this research, I hope to identify the personal and organizational factors that influence the application and/or adaptation of knowledge and skills acquired as a result of continuing professional education.

Data Presentation: A dissertation in fulfillment of the PhD Program in Social Foundations in Education at the University of Victoria

Principal researcher: Joy Davis, University of Victoria

Research sites: An online survey of Cultural Resource Management Program graduates across Canada, the US, and beyond, followed by up to four on-site interviews with graduates and their colleagues; locations across Canada and the US to be determined on the basis of the survey.

Time span: The survey is underway and interviews for case studies will be conducted in the Fall of 2009. Analysis, interpretation and writing are planned for Spring of 2010.

Contact: Joy Davis, joydavis@uvic.ca ; 250 477 0072

If They're Going To Tell Me What To See, What's the Point? Inviting Teenagers To Engage With and Interpret Museum Art

2009-05-27T10:11:00.000-04:00

(USA)

Research questions:

§ What occurs when a group of urban high school students experience a collaboratively developed language arts based art interpretation curriculum?

§ What pedagogical strategies personally engage high school students in the museum and classroom setting?

§ What can classroom and museum educators learn from the narratives of students’ encounters with museum art?

Data presentation: The qualitative data of my thesis is presented in the form of students' narratives of learning (student writing, discussions, and podcasts). Their adolescent processes of museum art interpretation are analyzed in my discussion section. Conclusions and recommended strategies for engaging teens in exploring their own unique museum interpretation experiences are shared.

Principal researcher: Heather Dexter Chelmecki, Master of Arts In Art Education Graduate Researcher

Site: The School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Time span: August 2008 – March 2009

Contact: hhdexter@gmail.com

H5N1 - The evolution of an influenza virus, A study into the effects of an exhibition and an on line serious game as means of science communication

2009-05-27T10:06:00.002-04:00

(The Netherlands)

Research question: Can an exhibition and an on line serious game contribute to knowledge and attitude with a general public about the threat of an avian influenza virus causing a human influenza pandemic?

Data presentation: In an article the authors will compare the effects of the exhibition and the on line game, by measuring knowledge and attitude of participants before and after visiting the exhibition or playing the on line game.

Principal researchers: Fred Balvert, MSc (Science Communicator at Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, The Netherlands); Midori Takahashi, PhD (Research Assistant at National Museum of Nature and Science, Tokyo, Japan)

Website where research is conducted: www.thegreatflu.com

Time span: March, 2009 until October 25, 2009

Contact: f.balvert@erasmusmc.n

Methodology and social sciences research in Museology

2009-04-14T08:00:00.000-04:00

(Spain)

Research questions: This project tries to diffuse the main instruments assigned in social sciences and its application in the development of Museology. The study pretends solve the lack of knowledge in Spanish museums´ staff, and connect from the social investigation to the usual practice at museum.

Data presentation: This project will get the DEA certificate at University of Murcia

Principal researcher: María Jesús Vega-Leal Cid (researcher, PhD student)

Evaluators: María Teresa Marín Torres and Conchita de la Peña

Site: University of Murcia (Spain)

Time span: 8 months November 2008- June 2009

Contact: vegalealcid@hotmail.com

Visitor studies in Austrian museums

2009-04-14T07:59:00.000-04:00

(Austria)

Research questions: 1. Survey of the status quo of (informal) visitor research in Austrian museums (type of projects, methods of collecting data, target audience, customer satisfaction, relevancy to practice, application of the results, significance of the project, tbd.) 2. comparative analysis of case studies

Data presentation: The statistical and qualitative analysis will be available as an academic paper (master thesis) and made public online or through publication.

Principal Researcher: Beate Steiner

Site: Department for Image Science, Danube University Krems / Department für Bildwissenschaften, Donau-Universität, Krems

Time span: May 2009 to Dec. 2009

Contact: Beate Steiner beate.steiner@gmx.at

Designing towards Museum Community Engagement in Exhibitions

2009-04-14T07:57:00.000-04:00

(Finland)

Research questions: The main topics for my research are how to create design that encourages community participation in the museum and what to expect from such participation .

Data presentation: It is a doctoral dissertation that it might be published by the University of Art and Design Helsinki, as it is the practice in our institution. The data collected came from three case studies in which I create and develop interactive pieces for museums in which visitors, staff and external collaborators could participate by leaving digital comments on the exhibition content.

Principal researcher: Mariana Salgado

Sites: The case studies were conducted in three museums in Helsinki area: Ateneum, Kunshall and Design Museum.

Time span: The research project started actively in 2005 and I plan to deliver the thesis in September 2009.

Contact: mariana.salgado@taik.fi