Modern Museum Education

Are you a team of one carrying the weight of an entire education department on your own? In this episode of the Modern Museum Education Podcast , we are diving into the hidden leadership role of museum educators and how to balance frontline chaos with strategic responsibilities. It doesn't matter if you lack an official director title or don't manage a staff; if you influence museum programming, p...

When I transitioned from a frontline educator to an education director in 2016, I quickly realized that being a great educator and being a strategic leader are completely different skill sets. In this episode of the Modern Museum Education Podcast , I am sharing the essential frameworks you need to stop spinning in circles and confidently step into your strategic museum leadership role. We are div...

Ready to transform your gallery space from a quiet viewing room into a dynamic learning environment? In this episode, we explore how to use game mechanics to increase museum engagement and unpack why playful learning belongs in every institution—even when tackling tough subjects. We discuss the pervasive tension between our responsibility to our collections and our responsibility to our visitors,...

Is play in museums ok, or is it a complete distraction from serious learning? In this episode of the Modern Museum Education Podcast , we tackle the deep tension many museum educators feel when incorporating play into their programming. It’s easy to doubt your work when colleagues or the public brush off creative family programs as "just fun," but I’m here to tell you that play and learning aren't...

Have you ever watched families in your museum and noticed that one person is totally engaged while someone else is completely checked out? In this episode of the Modern Museum Education Podcast , we’re breaking down exactly how to design museum programs that work for kids and adults at the same time.   We are moving way beyond just slapping a coloring sheet on a side table with a powerful program...

Ever wonder why families actually walk through your museum’s doors? In this episode of the Modern Museum Education Podcast , I dive into the core frameworks of how to foster family engagement in museums. By understanding that parents and caregivers use museums to excel in their roles as parents, museum educators can shift their design focus toward intentional and meaningful intergenerational conne...

"Now more than ever, the world needs the truth, creativity, and inspiration that museums provide." We're wrapping up the 12 Days of Christmas: Museum Education Edition with a heartfelt reflection on the importance of museum education. In this final episode of 2024, I share my gratitude for the museum educator community and excitement for what lies ahead in 2025. Join us as we celebrate the impact...

In this penultimate episode of the 12 Days of Christmas Museum Education Edition, we dive into a deeply resonant topic for museum educators: finding and sustaining joy in your career. Whether you're thriving or just surviving, this episode offers actionable strategies to help you reconnect with your passion, create balance, and innovate in your work. From rediscovering the spark that brought you t...

"Volunteers want to feel like they're contributing something meaningful, not just completing a task." Welcome back to the 12 Days of Christmas Museum Education Edition, a special podcast series designed to give museum educators actionable tips and research-backed strategies to elevate their programs for 2025. In today’s episode, we’re focusing on volunteer recognition programs—a cornerstone of man...

“Your perspective is valuable. Whether your first presentation is big or small, it’s a chance to contribute and inspire others in the museum field.” In today’s episode we explore a topic that might feel intimidating to many but is incredibly rewarding: presenting at professional conferences. Sharing your knowledge and experiences with peers can be a transformative step in your professional journey...

Welcome back to the 12 Days of Christmas: Museum Education Edition! In this episode, we explore the transformative power of human-centered design in creating museum programs that truly resonate with visitors. Whether you're designing for school groups, families, or adult learners, this approach puts people at the center, ensuring relevance, meaning, and engagement for all. Human centered design is...

Welcome back to the 12 Days of Christmas: Museum Education Edition! Today’s episode dives into fostering creativity and originality in museum education programs, inspired by Adam Grant’s book, *Originals*. Listen to learn key insights about the innovative nature of museum education and how museum educators are the prime candidates for fostering originality and innovation! Discover how to create a...

Today’s episode dives into the transformative power of systems thinking and its application to the wicked problems we face in museum education. Learn how this innovative mindset can help you approach complex challenges with clarity, adaptability, and creativity. In this episode, you'll discover what wicked problems are how systems thinking can help you solve wicked problems a real-world example of...

In today’s episode, Rachel dives into the art of knowing when—and how—to refresh long-standing museum education programs. Whether it’s your department’s signature offering or a seasonal favorite, keeping programs relevant and engaging requires intentional reflection, strategic updates, and community input. Key Takeaways: Recognize the Need for a Refresh Use Data as a Guide, Not a Judgement Balance...

In this episode, we dive into the fascinating history of museum advocacy and policy in the United States. From the founding of the Smithsonian Institution in 1846 to the creation of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) in 1996, we'll unpacks key moments in the relationship between museums and federal policymaking. If you’re curious about the roots of museum policy and its implicatio...

Welcome back to the Modern Museum Education Podcast! Today is Day 3 of the 12 Days of Christmas Museum Education Edition, a special holiday series packed with actionable tips to elevate your museum education programs. In this episode, we dive into the art of creating magnetic marketing copy that turns potential audiences into engaged participants. In this episode, you'll learn how to: Write entici...

Welcome to day two of the "12 Days of Christmas: Museum Education Edition!" Today’s episode is all about rekindling your museum magic – breathing fresh life into program ideas, especially during quieter winter months. Key Takeaways: Embrace your inner explorer by wandering your galleries. Innovation often comes from collaboration. Walk through the museum from your visitors' perspectives. Draw insp...

Welcome to the first episode of the “12 Days of Christmas Museum Education Edition!” Let’s dive into a vital topic: moving beyond “crafting for craft’s sake” in museum programming.  Key Quotes “To craft for craft's sake is your mother's museum education. And I said what I said.” “Every crafting activity that we design should be more than just a fun distraction. It should be a powerful storytelling...

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 burn...

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 t...

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 w...

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 socia...

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 tour...

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 trans...

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, inclu...