Standardized Tests vs. Arts and Culture

If you are involved in education in Michigan, or have a child in school here, then you have probably heard about the chaos involved with testing this year. It is been a stressful time for teachers, students, and parents as the state has prepared for the new tests. But has anyone considered how this would affect museums and the relationships that our local students have with them?

Background Information
It was decided last summer that Michigan students would not take the Smarter Balanced test that was replacing the MEAP and MME tests this spring. This sudden change in plans meant that all new tests had to be developed in just a few months, when it usually takes a few years. Of course, this has put some stress on everyone involved as teachers tried to prep their students for an unknown test. Some parents are even opting out of the testing for their children because they are concerned that it will not be a quality assessment. This has been a huge controversy over the past year. Now, it is testing time. There is an 8-week span this spring in which students in various grade levels are taking the new tests called MSTEP. (A fellow educator recently referred to it lovingly as the MissSTEP.)

...So, museums are being affected?
YES! I made this connection last week while at work. My museum hosts hundreds of students each day on field trips during this time of the year. Admission and bus trips to the museum are free for local schools, so we have an incredible number of teachers take advantage of the opportunity. Teachers did not know their testing schedules until right before they were required to administer the exams. This means that hundreds of students have missed their opportunity to visit the museum on a field trip. Teachers have been so stressed about the impending tests that they forget to call and cancel or reschedule their trip. This has caused some problems as we scramble to figure out where our missing field trip is - are they lost? Did their bus break down? Oh, they are just filling in bubbles on the MSTEP all day, not to worry.

But I am worried. For some of these students, this may be their only chance to visit a world class art museum. To experience beauty and history in this capacity. To learn critical thinking skills and appropriate museum behavior. Teachers do a wonderful job of helping students to discover the arts and learn about culture, but having access to a museum with tangible artifacts makes an incredible difference in the way that students experience these ideas. Instead of going on a tour of the museum, our kids are tapping away at a keyboard or using their No. 2 pencils to answer test questions that likely will not count for anything this year.

I sincerely hope that these issues with standardized testing can be resolved soon. It would be a shame for students to lose out on opportunities to experience arts and culture field trips year after year due to this poor planning. Students and Teachers, I look forward to seeing your at the museum soon!

Master's Degree = 25% Done!

It is an awesome feeling to know that I am already so far in my MA program! The first six months of graduate school have opened my eyes to many interesting ideas.

In my first term I wrote two papers about things that I am very passionate about, and it was great to share my thoughts and receive positive feedback in the form of A's! In my second term I have enjoyed learning more about managing staff and volunteers, there were so many great ideas that I was able to connect to my own experiences as a museum staff member. Now I'm waiting for the grade on my first paper of this term and gearing up to write my second paper. Crossing my fingers for more A's!

I'm also starting to brainstorm ideas for my thesis paper. It is still a long ways away, but I'm trying to get some ideas flowing now...

And perhaps even more exciting than being 1/4 done with the academic part of my degree is that I'm already half finished with paying for it! I've been working hard to avoid taking out any loans for my MA since I am still paying those pesky student loans from my undergraduate degree. But, that is the price you pay for being a lifelong learner!

Exploring Alaska's Museums

Back in 2011 (can't believe its been almost 4 years!) I spent a summer as a museum intern in Anchorage Alaska. It was an incredible, life-changing experience. During my free time I was able to visit a few other museums in the area. Here are some quick reviews of just a few Alaskan Museums. I can't wait to go back and see what else the state has to offer! Have you visited any other awesome Alaskan museums?

The Alaska Museum of Science and Nature

Me with a walrus skull from the education collection.

    This is the museum I interned at, so I may be a bit biased about how awesome it is. It was previously called the Alaska Museum of Natural History, but I think the new name better encompasses all it has to offer. The museum is small, but very welcoming for visitors of all kinds, including families with kids.
   

Teaching about cave bears on a tour!

They have a variety of exhibits and artifacts including dinosaurs, geology, ice age, Alaskan animals, and a special area just for kids. There are many hands-on features, too. They often have special activities during school breaks which tie into the museum exhibits.

To learn more: click here

The Anchorage Museum.

The Anchorage Museum

This was another amazing museum in Anchorage. It is really a state of the art facility with impressive exhibits and so much to see and do. It covers everything from science to history to art. They also have special exhibits, when I was there it was all about mammoths. I really enjoyed learning about the history of Alaska's people and visiting the kids science area. Learn more: click here

The infrared camera in the kids science exhibit was way cool!

The Alaska Sea Life Center

Captain Hillary.

This museum is in Seward, Alaska. I definitely recommend making the trip to Seward if you are in AK. You can hike up a glacier, go on a whale watching cruise, see where the Iditarod started, and explore the quaint town. The Sea Life Center has a lot of interesting exhibit showcasing all of the amazing sea creatures that can be found around Alaska. There is a lot for people of all ages to explore and they also have special informational presentations. Learn more: click here

Puffins at the Sea Life Center!