EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
Educational programming and outreach are key components to extending an institution's mission and content to people who may not have the opportunity to visit. Or to further develop an exhibition theme. The programs I designed reflect community events, national trends, or inspiring moments.
Each program was carefully formulated based on the targeted audience and their needs to garner interest and engagement. The mission of the institution is the foundation that helps define how you want people to engage with the event or program. The scope of programs I developed vary from events, workshops, lectures, community hosted programs, and exhibitions. Each program was an opportunity to test my design skills, outreach ability, and maintain composure. There are so many ways people can be engaged, each comes with their own challenges and rewards. Listed are a few program examples. Enjoy!
Exhibition Development Workshop
While at the Lilly Library, I was asked by students and faculty to host an workshop on exhibition development. I was thrilled to have this opportunity because I believe exhibition development is more than finding attractive material to put on display. To name a few, there are a range of skills to apply like proper object mounting and stability, lighting techniques, and label writing, following Beverly Serrell’s approach to efffective labels. Most importantly, I emphasize to my audience the importance of including multiple perspectives and voices related to the subject, to create a more inclusive exhibition. The images are from a section of my exhibition development workshop.
Wonderlab Science Museum After School Ed-Ventures Program
Wonderlab's goal is to connect wonder through scientific inquiry and discovery, from unexpected and surprising things, to have Ah-Ha! moments where deeper understanding is reached, to move from discovery and exploration to mastery, to intrigue and to create moments that wow. -Wonderlab Science Museum Mission
The After School Edventures program began in 2010. The success of the program has been exponential. Measured by the number of students each year, the students experiencing ah-ha moments, and doubling the program in 2014.
The evaluation methods included discussing the activities with the students, observation, and general success of completing experiments. One year we partnered with IU Science Education Department who arranged that the students use go-pros during the program. The footage from the student’s perspective gave insight into how an individual evaluated and troubleshooted, or did not, through the activity.
The ASE curriculum combined aspects of the Indiana Science Standards focusing on design, engineering, and technology with physical science standards. All in the context of the makerspace/creative tinkering approach. We encouraged creating and testing projects over and over, even when faced with failure. Stressing the idea that failure is an important part of the scientific process.
The Lead Teachers played an important roll during the curriculum development. It was important to develop an actively that could be discussed, tried, and get results in a 45 minute period. Some activities spanned a few days, but there was risk of a child showing up the second day and have missed key components. If this was the case, the Assistant teacher would aid in catching up these kiddos.
The 2015 curriculum’s theme was circuits. Circuits were a great way to create opportunities for exploration and retesting. They also provided connections to the real world of students’ lives (things light up!) and provide a system with immediate feedback. There are many materials to experiment with to make various circuit projects for all ages. Students participated in the design process, learned to use materials and tools safely, and employed the basic principles of the engineering design process in order to find solutions to problems.
One of my favorite activity during the circuits theme was Take-A-Part. I gathered interesting electronics from thrift stores for students to take a part. Reiterating the excitement of exploration, tool safety, and discovery. The collected parts were then turned into art. It was a fun free for all!
Monroe County History Center Record Store Day
Record Store Day is celebrate around the world in April. It is a chance to come together to celebrate the unique culture of record stores and their role in local communities. Bloomington, Indiana historically has a large music scene. It is home to several nationally know record labels and musicians. Music is an important facet that contributes to the community culture facets.
The purpose of the program and exhibition was to bring in an audience that may know of the Center, but has not visited. The average age of this audience was between 20-45, typically a tricky group to engage.
The exhibition featured vinyl from over 200 different musicians and bands from the area, from the past and current. This was an opportunity to reach out to local record stores, musicians, and collectors to loan their vinyl. WFHB helped contribute to the historical narrative of area bands. Included was an edited video of past and current live bands playing at local venues.
To celebrate the day, I created a program that highlighted music education and exploration by day and a live band at night. The program received over 100 visitors.
Annual Car Show
In 2014 I was offered a traveling exhibition, Auto Indiana, from the Indiana Historical Society. The exhibition not only featured the traveling exhibit, but served as an opportunity to celebrate history, design, and current US car manufacturing memorabilia from local car enthusiasts. Partnering with Indiana University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, known then as Mathers Museum of World Cultures, I was able to secure a on loan of the first car in Bloomington, Indiana as a feature piece.
Accompanying the exhibition I organized a classic car show to benefit the History Center. The show was a great way to reach out to a variety of community members to the museum. In the first year the program had over 400 visitors.
I was able to gain new sponsors, Kroger and World Wide Automotive, and attracted new partners of 50 car entries from all over the state. I built the foundation for what is now a signature event for the Museum.
Community Hosted Partnerships
The Community Voices Gallery at the Monroe County History Center allowed community groups to exhibit themselves for the purpose of celebrating the people who volunteer, programs they offered, and opportunities for the community at large. I also created guidelines on how the gallery could best be used and event evaluation forms to capture number of attendees.
For each group, I helped organize an opening reception. Each reception format varied according to the groups desires, ranging from a fashion show to dancing to an awards ceremony. I strategically planned each opening to happen during the community Gallery Walk which attracts hundreds of people that were feet away from the Museum. As a result the openings experienced an increase in attendance and new visitors overall.
These partnerships helped both the museum and the organization to increase new visitors and build new stakeholders.