This article presents three case studies that explore a very popular trend in art museum adult education in the last decade--partnerships with medical schools to offer critical professional development in visual observation. Each case study describes a critical perspective in the development and implementation of this programming trend: that of…

Changes in the content and structure of museum/school programs reveal serious questions about how museums are perceived as essential educational resources. In this article, the author examines this relationship as symptomatic of the continuing marginalization of museums in public policy and recognition and, ultimately, public support. She urges…

Museum education finds itself in the midst of significant changes as both the museum and education fields respond to internal and external challenges that require new approaches. Today, museums recognize that the choice is no longer theirs and that they "must" change to adapt to new economic realities. As museums adapt to new economic realities…

Education programs are increasingly appealing to all types of funders and should not be overlooked in a museum's fundraising efforts. The economy and the rise of private family and corporate foundations make funders more and more interested in the enhanced and lasting impact museums can make in their communities. (Contains 4 notes.)

Given the increasingly interactive, dynamic, and cost-effective online learning platforms that are available, as well as studies that demonstrate the efficacy of online and blended learning, museums should consider how these new formats may complement their existing educational programs. Besides offering new possibilities for education, online…

Historical organizations cannot continue to compete in the modern marketplace using traditional models for education program development. Social networking sites and new applications are shaping the way our audiences approach their work, even more so as Generation Y/Millennials begin to flood into the workforce, changing the demographic makeup,…

Collaborative processes by nature are not neat and tidy; and if mismanaged, they can lead to chaos rather than creative productivity. However, when a museum and a group of teachers establish a respectful peer community that maximizes all the members talents, truly impactful teaching and learning result. This article analyzes the "Great Chicago…

Many science centers have partnerships with schools, universities or scientific industry. This article will describe a unique collaborative project between Liberty Science Center, Wagner College, and Picatinny Center (a government research center) that has college interns working with and learning from science center staff and real scientists in a…

The Australian Museum has been working with the Coalition of Knowledge Building Schools over the past five years. Students aged from 5-18 years have been advising the Museum on the development of exhibitions and programs, as well as how the Museum can best use the digital environment to showcase its research and collections. This paper outlines…

ArtsConnectEd is a Web site that is the product of a ten-year partnership between the Minneapolis Institute of Arts and the Walker Art Center, bringing together online the collections of the two museums specifically for K-12 teachers and students in Minnesota and beyond. This article describes the history of the partnership and important lessons…

This article explores the importance of developing strong adult education programs within a broader collaborative effort between museum staff and K-12 teachers. Focusing on history museums, the first section discusses the importance of museum visits for K-12 history learning and how we need to reconsider some of the primary purposes for these…

What kinds of programming should an art museum's education department offer to the K-12 school community? How can educators best contribute to students' current and future intellectual development? What type of programming best fits the needs of students and teachers, while also addressing the unique aspects of the museum setting? At the Isabella…

Most museum educators strive for their programs to have positive effects on students, but what impact do they really have? What factors, including museum-school programs, contribute to positive academic performance and critical thinking in particular? This article examines the Guggenheim Museum's artist-in-residence program, Learning Through Art…

Many art museum programs aim to facilitate the development of young people's critical-thinking skills, but most are unclear in their definitions of critical thinking and their notions of how it is best facilitated. This article shares a diagnostic tool for identifying instances of critical thinking in art museum programs. Specifically, the authors…

This article addresses an arts-integrated social studies curriculum for grades three through five entitled Artful Citizenship, designed by The Wolfsonian-Florida International University. Funded by the U.S. Department of Education's Arts in Education Model Development and Dissemination Grant program, the design and implementation of the program…