My fellow cMoe directors and I were lucky enough to attend the Association of Children's Museums annual conference this past week. In its own words, "ACM is the only organization representing museums and professionals dedicated to early childhood play, the starting point in the continuum of lifelong learning." So, their annual conference is THE place to be! I learned a ton at the conference and made some great connections. Here are some of my biggest personal takeaways stripped down to the most basic ideas (i.e., the notes I highlighted in my handy little ACM note-taking book!)
Maker Spaces and Materials
- Materials matter! Great maker spaces are about low-tech materials with thoughtful facilitation. (Reid Bingham, NY Hall of Science)
- The four best block sets (per Marcos Stafne of Montshire Museum of Science) are Kapla (check), MagnaTiles (check), Unit Blocks (check), and Imagination Playground (sigh...)
- Blocks shouldn't be relegated to a corner in an early childhood area! (Guilty!)
- Paul Orselli (Paul Orselli Workshop) hates fake food and fake grocery stores. But, he gave us some great ideas on how to turn the tired concept into something rather innovative and interactive.
- Children should the creators of Maker Spaces - not the consumers (Janella Watson, NY Hall of Science)
"NySci" - just beautiful!
- Transmedia stories give kids opportunities to expand the original world and deepen the characters. (Think "Star Wars.") How can we bring these opportunities to our museums? (Erin Reilly, USC) (Um, super cute website, btw.)
- We can use existing technology to "lengthen, deepen, and extend learning." See: www.21-tech.org
- The most exciting new technology (IMO) allows kids to manipulate "real-life" objects that connect to a digital experience. (See: Winklebeans.)
- How can we use technology give our kids as much freedom to add to the museum experience as the original curators?
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| Winklebeans |
- Your staff can be your greatest resource when it comes to communicating your museum's mission.
- To make learning through play visible, you need to share your museum's philosophy! Why do we spend so much time creating learning plans and educational philosophies and then hide them away from the world? (Guilty!) It's not a top-down process: ask your patrons and co-workers - what does learning mean to them?
- Entrust kids with something important - it gives them a sense of authenticity and responsibility. (E.g., giving them a pick to let them play an instrument, like the instrument from the Take Me There China exhibit in Indy.)
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| Family Passport to Play - a successful community partnership! |
- Businesses and other organizations want to collaborate with museums because we can offer them things they can't get on their own: the reach, the chance the meet their mission, added value to their clients, a "measuring stick", the chance to communicate an idea with the backing of people who aren't just in it for a profit, and the opportunity to connect with other partners.
- Many hands make light work in a true collaboration.(See: Family Passport to Play)
- Good collaborations save time.
- When it comes to finding community partners, consider who might share demographics with you - then, think outside the box!
- People LOVED our Destination Discovery camp idea. They thought it was a great example of a partnership that is working well. (I can't take any credit for it, since it was in place before my time, but I agree!)
- The smartest way to think of volunteers is by dividing them into generations. Different generations want different things from their experiences.
- Don't be afraid to say NO if someone's experiences won't fit with your needs. That doesn't make them a bad volunteers; it just means they're not right for your needs.
- We need more adult volunteers, but have a strong core of student volunteers. Some museums have the opposite. Always nice to see a success mixed with a challenge :)
