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The NAEA 2013 Conference Experience
By Katy Creagh, School Programs Developer at the Indiana State Museum
Art Matters. That was the theme of the 2013 National Art Education Association (NAEA) Conference. I was reminded of this idea in every session, presentation, and exhibit. As a first-time NAEA conference attendee, I enjoyed the opportunity to network and talk with other museum professionals who specialize in art, as well as to experience the beautiful city of Fort Worth, Texas.
After attending three days of engaging and thought-provoking sessions, I found two sessions particularly interesting and inspiring. The first focused on the definition of engagement means to the museum educator. Presenters explored how the museum field uses the word, and also shared alternative meanings of engagement gathered from other professional fields. In an open discussion, the presenters and participants examined the similarities and differences of how museums can learn from these various interpretations. One example of this was the technology professionals’ view. They define engagement on a continuum from “liking” a facebook page to a personal discussion with a museum docent regarding a specific work of art.
My conference experience was also impacted by a session given by members of the education department at the National Museum of Mexican Art in the Pilsner neighborhood of Chicago. The educators shared several techniques they use to help teach students about culture beyond simply food and celebrations. Looking and talking about contemporary art is an integral part of these strategies and one that helps students connect to the issues of today.
These sessions, and others, reenergized me. I heard new ideas, listened to other museum educators’ successes and learning experiences. I was also able to re-imagine what art programming can look like at the Indiana State Museum, and how I can better serve art teachers in the state of Indiana. From professional development opportunities to Artist-in-Residence workshops, I look forward to incorporating these new strategies and perspectives into our programming.
Katy Creagh started at the Indiana State Museum in 2010 and was previously a middle school Visual Art teacher in Anderson, IN. In her current position as the School Programs Developer, she works with school programming and summer camps, while also serving as the art content specialist. To reach Katy, email her at kcreagh at indianamuseum.org.
Art Matters. That was the theme of the 2013 National Art Education Association (NAEA) Conference. I was reminded of this idea in every session, presentation, and exhibit. As a first-time NAEA conference attendee, I enjoyed the opportunity to network and talk with other museum professionals who specialize in art, as well as to experience the beautiful city of Fort Worth, Texas.
After attending three days of engaging and thought-provoking sessions, I found two sessions particularly interesting and inspiring. The first focused on the definition of engagement means to the museum educator. Presenters explored how the museum field uses the word, and also shared alternative meanings of engagement gathered from other professional fields. In an open discussion, the presenters and participants examined the similarities and differences of how museums can learn from these various interpretations. One example of this was the technology professionals’ view. They define engagement on a continuum from “liking” a facebook page to a personal discussion with a museum docent regarding a specific work of art.
My conference experience was also impacted by a session given by members of the education department at the National Museum of Mexican Art in the Pilsner neighborhood of Chicago. The educators shared several techniques they use to help teach students about culture beyond simply food and celebrations. Looking and talking about contemporary art is an integral part of these strategies and one that helps students connect to the issues of today.
These sessions, and others, reenergized me. I heard new ideas, listened to other museum educators’ successes and learning experiences. I was also able to re-imagine what art programming can look like at the Indiana State Museum, and how I can better serve art teachers in the state of Indiana. From professional development opportunities to Artist-in-Residence workshops, I look forward to incorporating these new strategies and perspectives into our programming.
Katy Creagh started at the Indiana State Museum in 2010 and was previously a middle school Visual Art teacher in Anderson, IN. In her current position as the School Programs Developer, she works with school programming and summer camps, while also serving as the art content specialist. To reach Katy, email her at kcreagh at indianamuseum.org.
A Children’s Museum Educator’s View of the 2012 NAEA Conference
Melissa Trumpey, a school programmer at the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, returned from the National Art Education Association conference with renewed energy and even more ideas. Though her museum has been a member for a few years, the recent NAEA conference in New York was her first one. Melissa, who has attended other national museum and school conferences, notes “There’s something everyone can learn by going (to the NAEA conference) because there’s such a wide variety.”
The reason this school programmer attended the NAEA conference was very specific. With a grant from the Central Indiana Indianapolis Community Foundation through the “Take Me There: Arts and Culture” project, she was able to attend with lead teacher Lisa Kirkwood, art teacher, of New Augustus South Elementary School.
The project is a partnership between the Children’s Museum and three 3rd grade classes from Pike Township Schools and focuses on the “Take Me There” Egypt” exhibition. (Watch for when its focus changes to China!). Melissa made sure to 1.) Learn whatever they could to further the project, 2.) Network, and 3.) Enhance her own respective knowledge base. As a museum educator, she says she was always “looking for the museum twist on things.”
The NAEA conference provided much food for thought for her “Take Me There: Arts and Culture” project with its focus on professional development for the teachers, field trip visit for the students and grant-funded admission and transportation costs, sessions with teachers and students on Arabic calligraphy, and Family Outreach Night at the schools, which is billed a “Museum on the Road” activity and is culminating experience of the project. When students are able show, teach, and explain their works of art, including Arabic calligraphy, and geometric and floral motifs, it all comes together. Meeting teachers at the NAEA conference who wanted to learn more about establishing genuinely meaningful museum-school partnerships with buy-in and funding was of special interest too.
Melissa Trumpey started at the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis in 2006, taught 3rd grade at Alexander Elementary School, Albany, OH, and worked in public relations for two large corporations. In her current position, she mostly focuses on arts and humanities programming for schools, teachers, and students. To reach Melissa, email her at melissat (at) childrensmuseum (dot) org.
From the Spring 2012 issue of Contact
AEAI Spring Museum Education 2012 Training Opportunity for Teachers
AEAI co-sponsored, with the David Owsley Museum of Art as host site, a teacher training introducing the teaching method of Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS). Fourteen teachers learned how to promote critical thinking through art and use the three VTS questions, 1.) What’s going on?, 2.) What do you see that makes you say that?, and 3.) What more can we find? Three hours was not long enough as evidenced by teachers wanting to stay longer and try their new skills on different various other works of art.
Teachers said, “It provided relevant material for classroom use,” and “(t)he most valuable thing I learned was to be a facilitator for critical thinking.” District 3 Representatives Sherri Cline and Johanna Perez welcomed the group.
Look to Learn, which includes works of art from the David Owsley Museum of Art, critical thinking writing activities, and the VTS curriculum as a foundation, was also introduced. For more information or to suggest other training oppurtunities, contact Tania Said, director of education, David Owsley Museum of Art, tsaid (at) bsu.edu.
From the Spring 2012 issue of Contact
Teachers said, “It provided relevant material for classroom use,” and “(t)he most valuable thing I learned was to be a facilitator for critical thinking.” District 3 Representatives Sherri Cline and Johanna Perez welcomed the group.
Look to Learn, which includes works of art from the David Owsley Museum of Art, critical thinking writing activities, and the VTS curriculum as a foundation, was also introduced. For more information or to suggest other training oppurtunities, contact Tania Said, director of education, David Owsley Museum of Art, tsaid (at) bsu.edu.
From the Spring 2012 issue of Contact
New Museum Education Division Liaison
An experienced board member, Tania Said Schuler, curator of education at the David Owsley Museum of Art at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, is honored she was nominated and voted to serve as the Art Education Association of Indiana’s Museum Education Division Representative.
Her museum education, teaching, and learning work touches many groups. An exciting collaboration with Ball State University Teachers College and the Burris Laboratory School involves Look to Learn, a study on critical thinking through discussing and looking at art using Visual Thinking Strategies and focused activities. Work with pre-service teachers and students as docents is always rewarding as are the teachers and professors who make the effort to visit the David Owsley Museum of Art as their students’ resulting comments and observations are thought-provoking. Family visitors and involving parents in their children’s learning, and community outreach to afterschool programs and lifelong learners, are growing areas of emphasis.
Ms. Said Schuler’s past work experience includes employment at the American Association of Museums; Bead Museum of Washington, DC; Corcoran Gallery of Art / Washington Project for the Arts; Corporation for National Service; Institute of Museum and Library Services; and Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum Studies. Past board and professional service includes work on the annual report, governance, and strategic planning for the Museum Education Roundtable, reviewing articles for the Journal of Museum Education, and serving as the American Association of Museum’s Standing Professional Committee for Diversity co-chair.
As the museum liaison to the Art Education Association of Indiana, Tania Said Schuler looks forward to serving our state’s art educators and forging partnerships between teachers, museums, and allied groups across the state.
From the Winter 2012 issue of Contact
Her museum education, teaching, and learning work touches many groups. An exciting collaboration with Ball State University Teachers College and the Burris Laboratory School involves Look to Learn, a study on critical thinking through discussing and looking at art using Visual Thinking Strategies and focused activities. Work with pre-service teachers and students as docents is always rewarding as are the teachers and professors who make the effort to visit the David Owsley Museum of Art as their students’ resulting comments and observations are thought-provoking. Family visitors and involving parents in their children’s learning, and community outreach to afterschool programs and lifelong learners, are growing areas of emphasis.
Ms. Said Schuler’s past work experience includes employment at the American Association of Museums; Bead Museum of Washington, DC; Corcoran Gallery of Art / Washington Project for the Arts; Corporation for National Service; Institute of Museum and Library Services; and Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum Studies. Past board and professional service includes work on the annual report, governance, and strategic planning for the Museum Education Roundtable, reviewing articles for the Journal of Museum Education, and serving as the American Association of Museum’s Standing Professional Committee for Diversity co-chair.
As the museum liaison to the Art Education Association of Indiana, Tania Said Schuler looks forward to serving our state’s art educators and forging partnerships between teachers, museums, and allied groups across the state.
From the Winter 2012 issue of Contact
Your News in AEAI's Contact Newsletter and Online
News and pictures for inclusion in the AEAI Contact newsletter are due by March 1, June 1, September 1, and December 1 to the Museum Education Division Representative.
a. Any museum news from around the state
b. Any legislative changes that may have been made, under discussion or up for review that are pertinent to teachers and museum educators
c. Exhibitions, competitions and/or opportunities available to teachers, museum educators, and/or students
d. Upcoming meetings, seminars, educational or grant opportunities for teachers, museum educators, and/or students
e. Things interest to museum educators and art teachers (all levels)
f. If a museum sponsors a workshop, it may be eligible for a free ad of comparable value
g. If you see an article in a magazine that you feel would benefit your fellow teachers, please share it.
a. Any museum news from around the state
b. Any legislative changes that may have been made, under discussion or up for review that are pertinent to teachers and museum educators
c. Exhibitions, competitions and/or opportunities available to teachers, museum educators, and/or students
d. Upcoming meetings, seminars, educational or grant opportunities for teachers, museum educators, and/or students
e. Things interest to museum educators and art teachers (all levels)
f. If a museum sponsors a workshop, it may be eligible for a free ad of comparable value
g. If you see an article in a magazine that you feel would benefit your fellow teachers, please share it.
Last updated: 6/21/13