This session presented a case study of a staff development initiative that proved effective for bridging the divide that often exists between museum departments. Programming staff contributed to ongoing research and learned about the skills and concepts they were responsible for teaching as they worked alongside collections staff. Collections and research staff in turn learned public communication skills and participated in the development of educational programs and curricula. This session further discussed how this initiative evolved, the challenges faced, and the unanticipated outcomes of this collaboration.

1. BRIDGING THE DIVIDE:
COLLABORATIVE STAFF
DEVELOPMENT
Lorie Millward
•
Curator of Curiosity and Inquiry, Thanksgiving Point Institute
Eric Rickart, PhD
•
Curator of Vertebrate Zoology, Natural History Museum of Utah
Shannen Robson, PhD
Collections Manager, Vertebrate Zoology, Natural History Museum
of Utah
•
Debbie Amundsen
•
Volunteer Coordinator, Natural History Museum of Utah

2. Goal: Collaborative, project-based
staff
development


Project Description & Evolution
Key Outcomes
 Anticipated
 Unanticipated



Staff intersections
Future Directions
Discussion

3. Evolution of our experience
• C&R NSF Broader Impacts
2008 • Initial fieldwork collaboration

4. Evolution of our experience
2008
2009-12
• C&R NSF Broader Impacts
• Initial fieldwork foray
• 4 year C&R NSF grant awarded
• 3 field seasons of collaboration

5. Participants
2008
2009
2010
2011

6. Fieldwork

7. Evolution of our experience
2008
• C&R NSF Broader Impacts
• Initial fieldwork collaboration
• 4 year C&R NSF grant awarded
2009-12 • 3 field seasons of collaboration
•
•
2012-13 •
•
Poster presentation – Amer. Soc. Mammalogists
New Teacher toolkit
Volunteer lecture
Professional academic publications

8. Collections & Research
Outcomes
o
Prep fest
Fieldwork/
data
collection
o
Collections
Managemen
t assistance
o
o
Conference
collaboration
s
Volunteer
field trips,
tours, &
o

9. Education Outcomes
teacher
resources
o
authentic
learning
opportunities
o
teacher
training &
real-world
expertise
o
o
Conference
collaboration
s

10. Volunteer Outcomes
better
understand
Museum
o
better
placement of
volunteers
o
facilitate
relationship
of volunteers
with C&R &
education
o

11. Staff Intersections: C&R
Improved
communicati
on between
staff &
divisions
o
Greater
investment
in education
& volunteer
projects/goal
s
Collections
& Research
o
Enhanced
investment
in
disseminatio
n of scientific
information
o
Educators
Volunteers

12. Staff Intersections: Educators
Increased
ability to
reflect
museum
research in
programming
o
Educators
Better
understandin
g of C&R and
Volunteer
corps needs
o
Improved
job
satisfaction
as resulting
of
contributing
to ongoing
research
o
Volunteers
Collections
&
Research

13. Staff Intersections: Volunteers
Continuing
education &
professional
development
o
Volunteers
o
Participation
in scientific
research
enhances
value of
work
Larger
contribution
to
academics
o
Collections
&
Research
Educators

14. Challenges

Selling the idea

Budgeting time and resources

Sustaining the process beyond existing
personnel

Ownership

15. Future Directions

Integrating other experts and new projects

16. QUESTIONS AND
DISCUSSION