Open Forum

Greetings, all! Happy Thanksgiving to you and your families:

As education director of a private non-profit with historic colonial-era houses, I have spent a good deal of time over the last few years working to make our historic house educational programs appealing to teachers and their students. I have translated programs that had been docent centered to student centered collaborative experiences utilizing primary documents (and I have heard really good things from the teachers I have served). Yet, the schools are not coming to either on-site or distance learning in nearly the numbers they once had in pre 2008 recession...

I am therefore rethinking the educational programming we offer to consider ways I can to reach audiences and bring in income that no longer depends on serving schools during the school year (we have fairly robust summer and winter break programming). Might I ask the other Ed Directors out there: First of all, does this resonate with you? What direction are you taking your ed departments in terms of audiences you serve? Is diversification of programs away from dependence on schools during the school year the name of the game (to, say, weekend family programs, and events?)?

In addition, I also have learned how important it is to learn to "speak" the language of school admins in the offerings of programs, so that is one thing I plan to try in our marketing materials.    But I am thinking that I connecting- and remaining connected- with schools is getting harder and harder.  Any thoughts or inspiration is welcome! And as part of the spirit of thanks, I am definitely thankful for AAM. I learn and am comforted by the exchange that happens here.

Thank you!

Greetings, all! Happy Thanksgiving to you and your families:

As education director of a private non-profit with historic colonial-era houses, I have spent a good deal of time over the last few years working to make our historic house educational programs appealing to teachers and their students. I have translated programs that had been docent centered to student centered collaborative experiences utilizing primary documents (and I have heard really good things from the teachers I have served). Yet, the schools are not coming to either on-site or distance learning in nearly the numbers they once had in pre 2008 recession...

I am therefore rethinking the educational programming we offer to consider ways I can to reach audiences and bring in income that no longer depends on serving schools during the school year (we have fairly robust summer and winter break programming). Might I ask the other Ed Directors out there: First of all, does this resonate with you? What direction are you taking your ed departments in terms of audiences you serve? Is diversification of programs away from dependence on schools during the school year the name of the game (to, say, weekend family programs, and events?)?

In addition, I also have learned how important it is to learn to "speak" the language of school admins in the offerings of programs, so that is one thing I plan to try in our marketing materials.    But I am thinking that I connecting- and remaining connected- with schools is getting harder and harder.  Any thoughts or inspiration is welcome! And as part of the spirit of thanks, I am definitely thankful for AAM. I learn and am comforted by the exchange that happens here.

Thank you!

Greetings, all! Happy Thanksgiving to you and your families:

As education director of a private non-profit with historic colonial-era houses, I have spent a good deal of time over the last few years working to make our historic house educational programs appealing to teachers and their students. I have translated programs that had been docent centered to student centered collaborative experiences utilizing primary documents (and I have heard really good things from the teachers I have served). Yet, the schools are not coming to either on-site or distance learning in nearly the numbers they once had in pre 2008 recession...

I am therefore rethinking the educational programming we offer to consider ways I can to reach audiences and bring in income that no longer depends on serving schools during the school year (we have fairly robust summer and winter break programming). Might I ask the other Ed Directors out there: First of all, does this resonate with you? What direction are you taking your ed departments in terms of audiences you serve? Is diversification of programs away from dependence on schools during the school year the name of the game (to, say, weekend family programs, and events?)?

In addition, I also have learned how important it is to learn to "speak" the language of school admins in the offerings of programs, so that is one thing I plan to try in our marketing materials.    But I am thinking that I connecting- and remaining connected- with schools is getting harder and harder.  Any thoughts or inspiration is welcome! And as part of the spirit of thanks, I am definitely thankful for AAM. I learn and am comforted by the exchange that happens here.

Thank you!

 Hi Deborah,

Great question about school groups. In addition to schools, we're working toward providing experiences to students and families through community-based partners (i.e. non-school youth- and family-serving organizations). As such, we've developed relationships with local out-of-school-time organizations, social service organizations, service volunteer organizations, etc. to help reach and serve the families that they serve. We're finding staff at these organizations very responsive to engaging with us and to bringing their students to the museum. The community-based organizations also have different curricular requirements and more flexible schedules than schools, which can make scheduling that much easier. Our goal is also to serve the whole child (not just the child while they're in school), which includes reaching the family. Community-based organizations are a great way to connect with families.

Happy to talk with you (and others) more!

Best,
Kim 

Greetings, all! Happy Thanksgiving to you and your families:

As education director of a private non-profit with historic colonial-era houses, I have spent a good deal of time over the last few years working to make our historic house educational programs appealing to teachers and their students. I have translated programs that had been docent centered to student centered collaborative experiences utilizing primary documents (and I have heard really good things from the teachers I have served). Yet, the schools are not coming to either on-site or distance learning in nearly the numbers they once had in pre 2008 recession...

I am therefore rethinking the educational programming we offer to consider ways I can to reach audiences and bring in income that no longer depends on serving schools during the school year (we have fairly robust summer and winter break programming). Might I ask the other Ed Directors out there: First of all, does this resonate with you? What direction are you taking your ed departments in terms of audiences you serve? Is diversification of programs away from dependence on schools during the school year the name of the game (to, say, weekend family programs, and events?)?

In addition, I also have learned how important it is to learn to "speak" the language of school admins in the offerings of programs, so that is one thing I plan to try in our marketing materials.    But I am thinking that I connecting- and remaining connected- with schools is getting harder and harder.  Any thoughts or inspiration is welcome! And as part of the spirit of thanks, I am definitely thankful for AAM. I learn and am comforted by the exchange that happens here.

Thank you!

Greetings, all! Happy Thanksgiving to you and your families:

As education director of a private non-profit with historic colonial-era houses, I have spent a good deal of time over the last few years working to make our historic house educational programs appealing to teachers and their students. I have translated programs that had been docent centered to student centered collaborative experiences utilizing primary documents (and I have heard really good things from the teachers I have served). Yet, the schools are not coming to either on-site or distance learning in nearly the numbers they once had in pre 2008 recession...

I am therefore rethinking the educational programming we offer to consider ways I can to reach audiences and bring in income that no longer depends on serving schools during the school year (we have fairly robust summer and winter break programming). Might I ask the other Ed Directors out there: First of all, does this resonate with you? What direction are you taking your ed departments in terms of audiences you serve? Is diversification of programs away from dependence on schools during the school year the name of the game (to, say, weekend family programs, and events?)?

In addition, I also have learned how important it is to learn to "speak" the language of school admins in the offerings of programs, so that is one thing I plan to try in our marketing materials.    But I am thinking that I connecting- and remaining connected- with schools is getting harder and harder.  Any thoughts or inspiration is welcome! And as part of the spirit of thanks, I am definitely thankful for AAM. I learn and am comforted by the exchange that happens here.

Thank you!