ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
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Beryl,
A couple of things: I agree that many talented people have come to
the museum field from very diverse backgrounds; it's really amazing
and fun. Secondly, the field is really, really small! Couple these
observations with the fact that we have an almost steady stream of
folks with research backgrounds, etc. streaming into the
Exploratorium looking for employment and project positions (I'm sure
this true at many other institutions as well.) and I become dubious
of the potential benefits of certification program . Clearly, more
education is good, but what being provided? An entry point? A
standard? A leg up on the competition? To be measured against? Is the
school of education the right spot? etc.?? (Classroom teaching is a
distant cousin to informal education…the approach, the methodology,
the subjects, the metrics. )
Hopefully, this is some food for thought.
Charlie
On Oct 15, 2007, at 6:42 AM, Beryl Rosenthal wrote:
> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology
> Centers
> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
> institutions.
> **********************************************************************
> *******
>
> Ok, so having started this whole thing - I initially raised the
> question as UMass is considering developing a museum education
> certificate. It is still in the very early brainstorming stage (as
> far as we know there may not even be a need, so I am calling for us
> to offer some courses as electives within the Grad School of
> Education to test the waters - it's the closest you can get to
> front end/prototyping within the system!)
>
> My query was launched as a way to think about what courses we
> should offer, what are the kinds of things a museum educator should
> know. In my experience, it has generally taken me at least 6
> months to re-educate a former classroom teacher to the culture of
> museum education. On the flip side, I have had a number of really
> gifted incredible thinkers who had no experience in the content or
> in museum ed work for me and pick it up during training. As Jeff
> notes, many of us "snuck" into the field, often because no courses
> were widely available (Side note, my undergrad degree was a BFA).
> That's the context.
>
> Beryl
>
> --
>
> Beryl Rosenthal, Ph.D.
> Director, Tsongas Industrial History Center
> Boott Cotton Mills
> 115 John Street
> Lowell, MA 01854
> (978) 970-5081 (t)
> (978) 970-5085 (f)
> http://www.uml.edu/tsongas
>
> **********************************************************************
> *
> For information about the Association of Science-Technology Centers
> and the Informal Science Education Network please visit www.astc.org.
>
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Charles Carlson
Director of Life Sciences
exploratorium
3601 Lyon St.
San Francisco, CA 94123
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Tel: 415-561-0319
Fax: 415-561-0370
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For information about the Association of Science-Technology Centers and the Informal Science Education Network please visit www.astc.org.
Check out the latest case studies and reviews on ExhibitFiles at www.exhibitfiles.org.
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