Intermediate-level students worked as paleontologists, examining skeletal remains of Thanksgiving turkeys, hypothesizing theories, constructing skeletons, creating a scenario of life for the creatures, and selecting habitats. Students also examined ways that artifacts could reflect future archaeologists' view of contemporary society. The projects…

Described is a voluntary museum program where instructors teach science, math, and technology through art. Activities that can be used as "hooks" to get students interested in the program are provided. Topics include privacy and personal space, imaginary worlds, toys, behind the scenes, fads, friendly materials, humor, and the imagination. (KR)

Highlights findings from the American Association of Museums' 1989 survey. Presents national statistics about museums in the United States. Tables and charts explain the number of museums by region, distribution by type and budget size, attendance figures for 1988, and total staff by type. Sample size was 1,000 museums. (NL)

Describes the "Made in America" exhibit at the Henry Ford Museum at Greenfield Village (Michigan). Explains that the exhibit draws from a permanent collection of one million industrial products collected by Henry Ford and his successors. Discusses the use of graphics and hands-on exhibits to involve children in the exhibit. (CFR)

Inquires into the pre-trip preparation and interaction between elementary teachers and students during a field trip to a discovery center of natural history. Reports that teachers did not specifically prepare students for their visit to the center and many teachers exhibited formal school behaviors in this informal environment. (Author/CCM)

Compares the content of conversations generated by elementary school groups at animatronic animal displays in a temporary zoo exhibit and in a permanent natural-history museum exhibit. Finds that moving animal models in themselves are insufficient to induce many visitors to talk about them in other than a superficial, cursory manner. Contains 17…

The University of North Texas (Denton) and the African American Museum (Dallas, Texas) are partners in a program designed to produce expert managers of digital images and information. The class was divided into five teams assigned to five tasks relating to equipment, Web, database, image, and policy. The project design is described, and…

This article describes a 3-credit graduate course to prepare secondary science, mathematics, and special education teachers to use museums to teach science to students, including those with disabilities. The course emphasized helping teachers to develop instructional materials across the curriculum through use of museum resources and on promoting…

Describes the Five Faiths Project, a children's program of storytelling, photography workshops, museum exhibits, classroom projects, and community performances developed by the curator of education of the Ackland Art Museum at the University of North Carolina. Activities, which have focused on Hinduism and Judaism so far, will eventually explore…

Outlines the development and implementation of a project in which students work in groups of two or three to research, design, and build a display about a geologic time period or a topic related to the history of life on Earth. (DDR)

Based on the principle that all genuine education comes about through experience, John Dewey's ideas are particularly relevant to the theory and practice of museum education. Comments on Dewey's book "Experience and Education" in hopes of giving it wider readership. Major ideas from each chapter are summarized along with comments on…

Surveyed workers in higher education museums, galleries, and collections (HEMGCs) about threats to HEMGCs, how they contribute to their institutions and the wider community, and how they might effectively be managed. Concluded that HEMGCs provide a valuable service, that staff need the authority and funds to run them professionally, and that…

Focuses on teaching industrialization through the use of industrial artifacts, such as tools and products. Suggests field trips to museums and historic sites, building models of waterwheels or bridges, visiting an operating factory, and studying landscapes shaped by industrialization. Includes a bibliography. (CMK)

Focuses on ArtsNetMN--an art curriculum site developed by four Minnesota museums. Discusses design features on the ArtsNetMN site; collaboration as a key to ArtsNetMN's success as an online Learning Museum; the change from use of a listserv to a software product called Web Board; feedback from teachers; and implications for the classroom.…

Discussion of society's interest in history and memory focuses on library preservation policies and practices. Topics include technology and electronic information taking precedence over printed material; changes in museums; fears about cultural change and loss; negative impacts of new technologies; public opinion about the role of libraries; and…