This space was created by the Museum Education Roundtable to expand upon the most recent Journal of Museum Education (JME) issue, reflect on member events, and address timely issues that we face in the field of museum work. Read about how to write for our blog here.
Knowledge in Action ™
From the Membership: Results of MER Survey 2020
Last spring, amidst the unfolding and intersecting pandemics—COVID-19, anti-Black racism and structural inequity, climate change—the future of museums, and museum educators was anything but clear. In a “normal spring” (please excuse the incredible understatement here), the MER Board of Directors would have been planning our annual, in-person forum; recruiting and welcoming new Directors; connecting ideas for JME topics with authors … Read More
Banned Books: Museums and Libraries Respond
In October, author Kelly Yang received notification that a parent had filed a complaint about the use of her book, Front Desk, in a school’s curriculum. The parent deemed the book propaganda, and believed the school was teaching racism by including the book in an anti-racism curriculum. Front Desk, an award-winning middle-grade novel, follows 10-year-old Mia Tang and her parents … Read More
MER Responds: November 3, 2020
The Museum Education Roundtable (MER) Board of Directors believes in the importance of democracy, the ongoing work of building a healthy and equitable society, and the responsibility of all cultural organizations–including museums–to strengthen civic participation and public engagement. While international in scope, many MER members, contributors, and Board Members live and work in the United States, and are actively engaged … Read More
Museum Book Clubs
The latest Journal of Museum Education, Beyond the Cult of the Author: The Literary Museum Today, focuses on museums that are connected to literature and authors. Articles in the journal examine the ways in which these types of museums are using innovative programming to engage audiences in deep discussions. In conjunction with JME 45.3, we have created a list of … Read More
MER’S THIRD ANNUAL EXCELLENCE IN WRITING AWARDS
The Museum Education Roundtable (MER) is proud to announce the 2019 recipients of the annual Awards for Writing Excellence for the Journal of Museum Education: Carissa DiCindio, Bryan L. Davis, Ariel Goldberg, Jessica J. Luke, Eileen D. Tomczuk, Susan Foutz, Nicole Rivera, Lisa Brahms, Kari Ross Nelson, Barbara Hahn, Melissa Swank and Kimberly McKenney. Authors Jessica J. Luke, Eileen D. … Read More
Working together to advance accessibility
Over the past year, MER and Taylor & Francis, the publisher of the Journal of Museum Education (JME) and a number of other journals from the heritage sector, have worked to make our organizations, products, and services more accessible for people with disabilities. Our shared product, the JME, has served as a catalyst for us to collaborate on these efforts. … Read More
Museum Programming for Civic Engagement on Climate Change with Miranda Massie
Interviewed by Anais Reyes This guest post is authored by The Climate Museum, inspired by the JME issue 45.1, Museums and Public Climate Action. The Climate Museum is the first museum in the US dedicated to climate change. Through exhibitions, public art installations, youth programs, panels and workshops with experts, and more, the Museum uses programming as a way to … Read More
How Many Calls to Accessibility Action Do We Need?
“…they will not feel welcome if they discover that their basic needs have been overlooked.” “In all projects we worked with handicapped people, so that we would meet their needs and their wishes.” “Merely hiring an interpreter does not resolve all barrier problems.” “…get acquainted with the local handicapped community and agencies which serve it by forming an advisory committee.” … Read More