Welcome to the REVEAL Responsive Museum Facilitation Guide home page.
This video-based professional development program builds on findings from the REVEAL research study and is intended to be a catalyst for staff facilitators in museums, science centers, and other informal learning environments to discuss, reflect on, and improve their educational practices with their colleagues. The program was particularly designed for staff who engage with families and visitor groups through informal, conversational interactions, such as facilitation at interactive exhibits or activity carts. Program leaders or education managers can use the guide with their staff to prompt discussion, reflection, and experimentation around critical issues related to facilitating educational experiences in museums.
This program is intended to help educators:
- Strengthen and deepen their awareness and understanding of the complex dynamics of family learning in museums and how these relate to the role of a museum educator;
- Increase their skills in reflecting on their practice so as to become more effective facilitators and more insightful museum professionals; and
- Expand their repertoire of strategies for facilitating exhibit-based family learning in museums in a way that honors and responds to the needs and goals of families.
Guide Overview
The REVEAL Responsive Museum Facilitation Guide includes:
- An introduction to the REVEAL project and the video-based professional development program;
- Guidance and facilitation tips for staff members leading the program with their colleagues;
- Four discussion modules, each focused on a different aspect of facilitation and each linked to two specific videos of staff-family interactions;
- Handouts for participants, including background readings and video discussion guides; and
- Articles and resources for learning more about each module topic.
Click here to download the full guide.
You can also access the materials and videos for each module separately:
- Getting Started
- Introductory Session
- Module 1 - Understanding the Family Context
- Module 2 - Supporting Intergenerational Communication
- Module 3 - Encouraging Exploration and Inquiry
- Module 4 - Negotiating Family and Facilitator Goals
- Module 5 - Recognizing Expectations and Shared Understandings
