21st Century Museum & School Partnerships: What Museums Need to Know

This program will provide practical information on how to foster and evaluate sustainable museum/school partnerships. The format includes a group viewing of an American Association of Museums webinar and follow-up discussion, with presentation of two research projects on Balboa Park museum/school partnerships. Cost: $12.

Program Description
When Building Museum and School Partnerships was first published in 1993 (The AAM Press), it sought to express the essence of late 20th century thinking and practice, combining theory with practical application. Today, in a new century, museum and school educators are updating their work, refreshing their partnerships to reflect ever-changing environments, including shifts in the economy, demographics, technology and communication systems, and the globalization of our society. These changes are opportunities for museums to work with schools in new ways.

In this program, Beverly Sheppard and Kim Fortney, co-editors of An Alliance of Spirit: Museum and School Partnerships  (2010, The AAM Press), will present a 90-minute webinar with practical information that you can use to foster sustainable museum/school partnerships. Presenters will explore museum and school partnerships from the angles of teacher, administrator, evaluator, funder and museum director.

Following the webinar, we will learn from two recent research studies of local museum/school partnerships. Nancy Owens Renner, Research Associate at the San Diego Natural History Museum, will present her research findings on the School in the Park program. Julie Lawrence, CARE Coordinator, will present her research findings on the Balboa Park 5th grade program.

Presenters:
Kim Fortney, Deputy Director, National History Day, College Park, MD
Beverly Sheppard, President and CEO, Institute for Learning Innovation, Edgewater, MD
Nancy Owens Renner, Research Associate, San Diego Natural History Museum
Julie Lawrence, CARE Coordinator, San Diego

Outcomes: After participating in this program, attendees will be better able to

• Plan, develop, survey, test, implement and evaluate programs in partnership with schools; and
• Place current trends in museum and school partnerships into context of what is happening in both museums and schools to affect the relationship on both sides.

Agenda
10:30 a.m. Arrive for registration and time to meet and greet your colleagues
10:45 a.m. Program introduction
11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. American Association of Museums webinar
12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Follow-up discussion and presentation of research on local museum/school partnership programs

LOW COST GREAT VALUE!
$12 per attendee for networking with colleagues, webinar, and discussion. Inquire about group discounts. Payment will be accepted on-site in cash or by check; please make checks out to the Balboa Park Cultural Partnership.

Refreshments
Light refreshments and beverages will be provided; feel free to bring your own lunch.

RSVP by Tuesday, July 20
RSVP to learning@bpcp.org by Tuesday, July 20, 2010. Please share your name, title, organization and email address when registering.

The Balboa Park Cultural Partnership is the collaborative body and collective voice for 26 diverse arts, science and cultural institutions in Balboa Park. This program is brought to you by the Partnership’s Balboa Park Learning Institute in collaboration with the American Association of Museums and the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center. The Balboa Park Learning Institute is supported in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.