CALL FOR ARTICLE IDEAS
Journal of Museum Education
Vol. 50 No. 2 Spring 2025
Rethinking Children’s Museum Learning and Experiences: New Perspectives and Challenges
Guest Editor: Chang Xu
The Journal of Museum Education (JME) welcomes proposals for articles for a special issue on rethinking children’s museum learning and experiences for children of preschool to school age. Many scholars have raised concerns about conventional teaching approaches in both traditional and museum education that hinder students’ creative expression (Bruner, 2006; Montessori, 2014; Vygotsky, 2012).
Despite decades of work to introduce child-centered, constructivist teaching methods in museum settings, children are still often imagined as passive recipients of information, thought of as “little learners” (Kirk & Buckingham, 2018), rather than as active contributors or co-creators with agency of their own. As museums worldwide seek to enhance students’ engagement and diversify their offerings, it becomes crucial for these institutions to critically evaluate their teaching methods and approaches. This journal issue aims to explore novel avenues for better comprehending the potentials of children’s encounters with museums and galleries.
It will also underscore the importance of collaborative efforts involving diverse museum roles and disciplines, including museum professionals, educators, curators, and program developers. Authors are encouraged to find inspiration in the following questions:
- What innovative approaches characterise new forms of child-centered praxis in museums?
- What strategies can be implemented to give children active agency in the curatorial and programming processes and decision-making within museums and galleries?
- What examples exist of successful interdisciplinary collaborations that have enriched children’s experiences in museums or galleries?
- What are some innovative methods for designing museum programmes that foster collaborative learning and active participation?
- What potential challenges could arise when attempting to integrate more collaborative and non-hierarchical practices within established museum structures?
- What are the potential opportunities and obstacles faced by educators when creating programs and curricula for and with children?
- In what ways does digital technology play a role in designing museum learning programs for children?
We welcome contributions that address these questions or others in relation to children’s museum education. Articles may be relatively brief (c. 2500-3000 words) and should describe projects or practices that offer both theoretical grounding and/or pragmatic takeaways that guide others in implementation. They need not be thesis driven, but should have a central focus or argument. be clearly and concisely written, and include references to supporting scholarship. Please consult the JME’s article submission guidelines at https://www.museumedu.org/journal/submissions/.
Article proposals of one page or less must be submitted by September 6, 2024 to [email protected]. The guest editors will review proposed submissions with the support of the MER Editorial Team, and if your proposal is of interest, we will contact you to discuss your article in greater depth.
Dr Chang Xu
Guest Editor
[email protected]
Michelle Moon
Co-Editor, Journal of Museum Education
[email protected]
As an organization based in the United States, MER is committed to the principles of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). In addition, with international authors and readers, we strive to make the Journal of Museum Education as accessible as possible and will provide accommodations.
The Journal of Museum Education (JME) is the premier peer-reviewed publication exploring and reporting on theory, training, and practice in the museum education field.
Journal articles—written by museum education practitioners and scholars—explore such relevant topics as museum-related learning theory, visitor engagement and community involvement, evaluation, teaching strategies for art, science, and history museums, and the responsibilities of museums as public institutions.