Museums and Schools: Partners in Teaching and Learning

The national Museum Education Roundtable (MER) and the Chicago Hands-On Educators (CHOE) examined successful partnerships between museums and schools at the Chicago History Museum in January 2010. This collaborative workshop, based on the Journal of Museum Education Spring 2009 issue, “Museums and Schools,”  addressed successes, challenges and lessons learned in creating and sustaining partnerships with k-12 schools. Topics included:

  1. A discussion of ways to bridge the culture gap between schools and museums
  2. Examining successful models of partnerships
  3. How to navigate the Chicago Public Schools and other large district systems
  4. How to get connected to the latest  literature on museum/school partnerships

Speakers included:

  • Heidi Moisan, Manager of School Programs, Chicago History Museum, and contributing author in “Museums and Schools”
  • Leah Melber, Director of Student and Teacher Programs, Lincoln Park Zoo
  • Nicole Kowrach, Assistant Director for Education and Manager: School Programs, Museum of Science and Industry
  • Wendy Ennes, Senior Manager, Teacher and e-Learning Programs, The Oriental Institute Museum of the University of Chicago
  • Julyne Hahn Segar, Director, CHOE and Independent Education Specialist
  • Tina Nolan, Moderator & Chair, Publications Committee of the Museum Education Roundtable

The mission of the Chicago Hands-on Educators is to provide a forum in which professional educators dedicated to hands-on learning in Chicago’s museums, zoos, aquaria, historical organizations and other cultural institutions can exchange ideas, gain personal and professional support, and contribute to the advancement of our field.