Bridging the Divide: Collaborative Staff Development

Post on 16-Nov-2014

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This session presented a case study of a staff development initiative that proved effective for bridging the divide that often exists between museum departments. Programming staff contributed to ongoing research and learned about the skills and concepts they were responsible for teaching as they worked alongside collections staff. Collections and research staff in turn learned public communication skills and participated in the development of educational programs and curricula. This session further discussed how this initiative evolved, the challenges faced, and the unanticipated outcomes of this collaboration.

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BRIDGING THE DIVIDE:COLLABORATIVE STAFF DEVELOPMENT

Lorie Millward• Curator of Curiosity and Inquiry, Thanksgiving Point Institute

Eric Rickart, PhD• Curator of Vertebrate Zoology, Natural History Museum of Utah

Shannen Robson, PhD• Collections Manager, Vertebrate Zoology, Natural History Museum of Utah

Debbie Amundsen• Volunteer Coordinator, Natural History Museum of Utah

Goal: Collaborative, project-based staff development

Project Description & Evolution

Key Outcomes Anticipated Unanticipated

Staff intersections Future Directions Discussion

Evolution of our experience

2008

•C&R NSF Broader Impacts

•Initial fieldwork collaboration

Evolution of our experience

2008

•C&R NSF Broader Impacts

•Initial fieldwork foray

2009-

12

•4 year C&R NSF grant awarded

•3 field seasons of collaboration

2008

Participants

2009

20102011

Fieldwork

Evolution of our experience

2008

•C&R NSF Broader Impacts

•Initial fieldwork collaboration

2009-

12

•4 year C&R NSF grant awarded

•3 field seasons of collaboration

2012-

13

•Poster presentation – Amer. Soc. Mammalogists

•New Teacher toolkit

•Volunteer lecture

•Professional academic publications

Collections & Research Outcomes

o Prep fest

o Fieldwork/ data collection

o Collections Management assistance

o Conference collaborations

o Volunteer field trips, tours, & lectures

Education Outcomes

o teacher resources

o authentic learning opportunities

o teacher training & real-world expertise

o Conference collaborations

Volunteer Outcomes

o better understand Museum

o better placement of volunteers

o facilitate relationship of volunteers with C&R & education

Staff Intersections: C&R

o Improved communication between staff & divisions

o Greater investment in education & volunteer projects/goals

o Enhanced investment in dissemination of scientific information

Collections &

Research

Volunteers

Educators

Staff Intersections: Educators

o Increased ability to reflect museum research in programming

o Better understanding of C&R and Volunteer corps needs

o Improved job satisfaction as resulting of contributing to ongoing research

Educators

Collections &

Research

Volunteers

Staff Intersections: Volunteers

o Continuing education & professional development

o Participation in scientific research enhances value of work

o Larger contribution to academics

Volunteers

Educators

Collections &

Research

Challenges

Selling the idea

Budgeting time and resources

Sustaining the process beyond existing personnel

Ownership

Future Directions

Integrating other experts and new projects

QUESTIONS AND DISCUSSION