Modern Museum Education

What If It Was Easy? 3 Tips to Spring Clean Your Work

Spring is in the air, and just like nature, it's time for us to grow and bloom! 
I've been on a journey, balancing PhD life with family changes, and let me tell you, it's been a wild ride. But, as the seasons change, so does my capacity to dive back into what I love most - supporting museum educators.
Lately, I've been reflecting on how we can simplify our work, make it more joyful, and avoid burnout. It's heartbreaking to see passionate educators feeling overwhelmed, and I'm here to say: Let's make things easier on ourselves!
In this episode, you'll discover three tips to embrace the spring energy and rejuvenate your passion for museum education! 
Here's to making big things happen, one small step at a time!
For full show notes and a transcript, visit modernmuseumeducation.com/podcast/008.
 

Is That a Dragon: The Power of Optimal Certainty (Crafting Valuable Experiences, Part 5)

In this episode of the MME podcast, we dive into the concept of optimal certainty and challenge the common mindset that our goal is to teach visitors something completely new. 
In between a story about a giant cardboard dragon and an analogy about dressing a mannequin, you’ll discover the importance of creating a learning environment that balances a visitor’s prior knowledge and experiences with their own powerful curiosity.
Key Takeaways include:
Learning is a cumulative and individual process that occurs over time and across different contexts.
Visitors are more likely to learn and engage deeply with topics they already have some prior knowledge about.
Curiosity is a natural motivator that drives visitors to explore and seek answers to their questions.
Striking the balance between familiar knowledge and opportunities for curiosity, otherwise known as “optimal certainty” is a powerful way to engage visitors.
Real-life examples you can try out in your programs today.
Resources Mentioned:
Full show notes, including links and transcript can be found at modernmuseumeducation.com/podcast/007.
Visit the website, https://modernmuseumeducation.com/ to join Rachel’s email list and be the first to find out about her new, exciting project coming soon!
Looking for your next professional development read? Links to Rachel’s recommendations, including Learning From Museums and The Value of Museums, can be found at https://modernmuseumeducation.com/bookshelf.
Want to be a guest on the podcast? We are looking for museum educators of all kinds to share their experiences, expertise, and ideas. Click here to let us know you are interested!
Did you know Rachel can run a personalized workshop for your staff, based around the latest research on creating valuable programming? Find out more at https://modernmuseumeducation.com/services.

Ellis Island and Teddy Bears: Finding What’s Personal in a Museum (Crafting Valuable Experiences, Part 4)

In this episode of the MME podcast, we dive deeper into the concept of crafting valuable experiences in museums, focusing this time on the personal context of a visitor's museum journey. 
Building on previous discussions, we explore how museum exhibits and programs can create transformational experiences that deeply resonate with individuals. I’ll explain what “peak personal experiences” are and why creating opportunities for them to arise is invaluable to the success of your programs.
Key Takeaways include:
Creating peak personal experiences in museums leads to visitor satisfaction and meaningful memories. These experiences are highly personal and unpredictable, often resulting in strong emotional reactions and attachment to the museum.
How “culturally privileging” certain experiences over others limit our programming reach, particularly to children audiences.
4 tips for immediately improving visitors’ opportunity for personal satisfaction at your museum
Resources Mentioned:
Did you know Rachel can run a personalized workshop for your staff, based around the latest research on creating valuable programming? Find out more at https://modernmuseumeducation.com/services.
Looking for your next professional development read? Links to Rachel’s recommendations, including Family Spaces in Art Museums and The Value of Museums, can be found at https://modernmuseumeducation.com/bookshelf.
Want to be a guest on the podcast? We are looking for museum educators of all kinds to share their experiences, expertise, and ideas. Click here to let us know you are interested!

Self-Esteem and the Museum (Crafting Valuable Experiences, Part 3)

In this episode, we pick up with the ideas presented in John Falk's book "The Value of Museums," and consider how museums and museum programming are uniquely positioned to tap into visitor's primal need for social interaction.
Key takeaways include: 
How our need to be successful in social situations is directly proportional to our self-esteem
How we perceive museum visits in relation to our social status
The hugely significant finding from Dr. Falk's research that supports the work of children's programs in museums
For links to the resources mentioned, visit modernmuseumeducation.com/bookshelf.
Interested in working with Rachel directly? Find out more at modernmuseumeducation.com/services.
For a full transcript and show notes, visit modernmuseumeducation.com/podcast/005.

Let’s Get Physical (Crafting Valuable Experiences, Part 2)

As educators, we often focus on visitors’ intellectual experiences, but the physical context of a person’s experience in our museums is the starting point of their learning journey. In this episode, we consider the number thing we must do in order to convince a visitor to take an intellectual risk with us and we talk through some simple ways to improve the physical context of our programs and tours.
 
Key Takeaways: 
When visiting a museum, people expect to experience things in the physical context, a personal context, in a social context, as well as an intellectual context.
Visitors cannot take an intellectual risk if they feel physically unsafe or uncomfortable.
Improving physical wellbeing makes your entire site more inclusive.
For links to the books referenced in this episode, check out modernmuseumeducation.com/bookshelf.
For a full transcript of this episode, visit modernmuseumeducation.com/podcast/004.

Museums are like Silly Bandz: Crafting Valuable Experiences, Part 1

If experiences are the mainstay of museum education, how can we be sure we are crafting valuable ones for our visitors?
This episode kicks off a multi-part series diving into some of the latest research into what makes a museum visit worth a person's time.
Key takeaways include:
Value is determined by the user, not the producer.
Visitors today are looking for more than experiences; they want transformation.
Transformation happens when you create settings and offer experiences that meet your visitors' well-being needs. 
Books mentioned in this episode:
The Value of Museums, by John H. Falk
Learning from Museums, by John H. Falk and Lynn Dierking
Come, Stay, Learn, Play by Andrea Nalls
Full show notes and can be found at modernmuseumeducation.com/podcast/003.

Information Without Struggle - A Look at the History of Museum Education

What I learned about the history of museum education blew my mind and helped me think more broadly about the work all museum professionals do.
In this episode, you'll learn when education first became a focus in museums and who the "Father of Museum Education" was. If you're like me, this information will surprise and challenge you as you consider why you do what you do.
For full show notes, including links and a transcript, visit modernmuseumeducation.com/podcast/002.
 

Markers, Construction Paper, and Glitter Glue

Welcome to the new podcast made specifically for museum educators!
In this episode, I explain why I'm so passionate about museum education, my personal definition of museum education, and why I think programming for children should be every museum's top priority.
For full show notes, visit https://modernmuseumeducation.com/podcast.

Trailer

Join Rachel, a resource expert for museum educators who are stretched thin, but long to fall in love with their world changing work. Together, we'll reverse the chronic state of being overworked and underappreciated and reclaim our creativity and emotional energy. 
Find out more at modernmuseumeducation.com/podcast.