Thank You to All Who Exhibited at Conference 2011 - If You Missed the Conference, Check out this Virtual Exhibit Hall

I AM THE VERY MODEL OF A MODERN MUSEUM EMPLOYEE

I AM THE VERY MODEL OF A MODERN MAJOR-GENERAL

A Message from Our President

The following message is from Joe Gutierrez, VAM's president. It will appear in the upcoming VAM Voice member newsmagazine (release date will be Monday, March 14th):

Dear friends and colleagues,

The National Advisory Council on Continuing Education reports more than twenty-three million adults participate in continuing education annually. According to some sources this represents as much as 13% of the United States workforce. Reasons for participation are diverse, but studies indicate that maintaining and enhancing job skills, career advancement, and personal satisfaction are prime motivators. The world of work has changed dramatically in the last century. One source notes that in 1900 only one out of every 10 workers was in a professional, technical, or managerial occupation. By 1970 that had doubled and today these types of jobs account for nearly 1/3 of our workforce.


How does this relate to museums and in particular to the Virginia Association of Museums (VAM)? The mission of the VAM is to serve as the resource network of the Virginia and District of Columbia museum community through education, technical assistance, and advocacy. VAM has a long history as a leader in providing opportunities for continuing the development of professional skills of all levels of museum practioners. When I began my career the workshop series and the annual conference were tools that helped me see and understand the successes some institutions had. It was very clear to a new professional that the knowledge, skills, and abilities of a museum’s staff were the reason for success. Today, as the world has changed, so has VAM and there are more tools than ever before to help you.

Among the most popular are:

• Virginia Certificate Programs for Museum Professionals

• Workshop Series

• Technical Assistance Program

• Annual Conference

Experienced staff and colleagues just starting on a career may chose to participate in the Certificate in Museum Management Program. Utilizing workshops sponsored by VAM, SEMC, AAM, AASLH, college and university partners, as well as independent study participants provide the opportunity to learn the “ins and outs” of museum operations through a structured and systematic process.

For those interested in the specifics of selected operational issues, VAM also offers an annual workshop series for professionals in the field. These workshops conducted by successful practioners, develop new and strengthen existing skills. From conservation to special events these workshops provide principles and successful models which can be replicated.

Perhaps the most important aspect of VAM’s commitment to those of us in the field is the technical assistance program. Just by filling out a form, VAM can match your institution with an available advisor with expertise in one of many key areas of museum operations. Essentially this provides a one-to-one training program focused on a specific project that small museums in particular can benefit from, and the support can last up to six months.

From my perspective, perhaps the greatest resource for staff development is the annual conference. Hundreds of professionals from all areas of the Commonwealth converge to share successes and challenges, to inspire and communicate, and help one another. We all experience similar challenges and more than one career has been helped by learning what did and didn’t work at another institution. If you didn’t make the conference this year, I urge you to make it a professional priority in 2012. Learning can be fun, and that is particularly true at the conference.

I hope as you read this newsletter, you will carefully consider all the professional resources available through VAM. Take time to carefully read the information online at http://www.vamuseums.org/. Also consider where our field might be without VAM’s voice and what would be missing. I also hope you will continue to financially support VAM and that you might find an opportunity to give back more than the membership fee. VAM is a critical partnership not only in professional development but in educating decision-makers about the importance of museums. We need your support.

Sincerely,

Joe
Joe Gutierrez, President
Virginia Association of Museums

Virginia on iTunes U and Apps for Learning

Through iTunes U for K-12 education, students, teachers, and other interested users can “learn on the go" by downloading audio and video content onto an iPad, iPod, iTouch, or iPhone from any computer with Internet access. The Virginia on iTunes U portal is part of a larger effort by the Commonwealth to harness the power of digital media and mobile devices to expand and supplement classroom -based education. “Mobile communication devices are an integral part of the lives of thousands of Virginia students,” said Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Patricia I. Wright. “We can choose to ignore them or we can leverage them as powerful, personal learning devices.” http://www.doe.virginia.gov/news/news_releases/2009/apr07.pdf

To access Virginia on iTunes U directly:

Virginia on iTunes U may be accessed at here if iTunes is downloaded on the computer (PC or Mac). A free download of iTunes is available.

As of March 1, 2011, the following list of courses is available on Virginia on iTunes U:

A Moment in Time
Academic Literacy
African American Trailblazers in Virginia
BackStory with the American History Guys
Civil War in Virginia Series
Creative Learning in the Classroom
Data Driven Decision Making
Discovering Jamestown
Diving Deeper
Dr. Patricia I. Wright, Superintendent
Economics and Personal Finance
English as a Second Language
Family Connections Pre-K
Focus on Virginia: The James River
Fun with Physics
Highlights from George C. Marshall Foundation
Innovate
Internet Safety in Virginia
Introduction to Comics
ITRT Connection
Jamestown: A Fruitful Soil
Learning without Boundaries
Making Waves
McGlothlin Awards for Teaching Excellence
Net Files
Net Safety
Parent Involvement: Keys to Success
Reading Comprehension Strategies
Shaping the Constitution: Resources from Library of Virginia and Library of Congress
Shaping the World: Conversations on Democracy
Share the Skies
Shortie Awards: Student Film & News Festival
Teachers and Teaching
Teaching Mathematics
Tech Tutorials
Technology Integration
Teens in Between
The Empire of Mali Series
The Forest Files
The Story of Virginia
Thinkfinity in Virginia
Three Countries You Ought to Know About
Virginia Currents
Virginia Holocaust Museum
Virginia Pathways
Virginia Trekkers
Virginians at War
With Good Reason

Previous Background Information on Virginia Department of Education

(Press Releases Related to Apps for Learning)
Superintendent Announces SOL Apple Apps Challenge Seeking Apps to Enhance Learning in History, Civics &; Geography

SOL Apple Apps Challenge Winners Announced: Apps Designed to Enhance Learning in History, Civics and Geography Apps for Learning

With nearly 350,000 apps—over 25,000 in the Education category—available in the Apple App Store, the Office of Educational Technology at the Virginia Department of Education is leveraging these mobile technologies to expand learning opportunities for students and families. Mobile devices are an integral part of children’s lives and the majority of children in the United States have access to a mobile device. Virginia is tapping these devices to deliver standards-based, engaging content to meet the specific needs of Virginia’s learners.

Several initiatives are adding to the growing collection of apps. A Virginia Mobile Learning Apps Development Challenge has been conducted for the past two years focusing on social studies and mathematics. Based on the Standards of Learning (SOL) and an analysis of student performance by question test data, apps on key social studies and mathematics priorities have been developed to motivate students and enhance their learning. Internet safety apps have been developed to complement the Professor Garfield Internet Safety and You lessons. Competitive grant recipients through the Enhancing Education Through Technology (EETT) program have used a portion of this funding to develop apps to promote student-directed learning and enrichment beyond the classroom. Finally, the Beyond Textbooks initiative is resulting in apps that challenge our thinking about textbooks.

All apps are available as free downloads from the Apple App Store.

Early Jamestown
Beyond Textbooks 2010: American History Games
Beyond Textbooks 2010: American History Test Prep
Beyond Textbooks 2010: World History Games
Beyond Textbooks 2010: World History Test Prep
Westward Expansion
Pass the Past
Governomics
C2C! (Coast to Coast)
European Exploration: The Age of Discovery
Nation Creation
Number Line
Freddy Fraction

Fraction Factory

iCatchSquares

Math Stacker
Professor Garfield - Cyberbullying
Professor Garfield - Online Safety
Professor Garfield Fact or Opinion
Professor Garfield Forms of Media
Computer Carl
Grammar Dragon
Opposite Ocean
Same Meaning Magic
Same Sound Spell Bound
Sticker Shop
History Line
Spelling Cat

Beyond Textbook Initiative

For additional information, please contact:

Betsy S. Barton
Specialist, History and Social Science
Office of Standards, Curriculum, and Instruction
Virginia Department of Education
Email: Betsy.Barton@doe.virginia.gov

Who's Who List....

I normally wouldn't make a list into a blog post, but I'm so blown away by the list of organizations that'll be represented at #VAM2011 next month, that I just couldn't resist. We hope to see YOU represented there too - we'll have lots of rollicking laughter, networking, fun (and we'll sneak some top-rate professional development in there to boot). What's not to love?

- Heather




Museums and allied organizations represented at VAM's 2011 Annual Conference in Portsmouth, VA


A.T. Johnson High School Museum

African-American Historical Society of Portsmouth

Albemarle-Charlottesville Historical Society

Aldie Mill Historical Park

Alexandria Black History Museum

Allen E. Roberts Masonic Library & Museum

American Civil War Center At Historic Tredegar

Association for the Preservation of Henrico Antiquities

Black History Museum and Cultural Center

Blacksburg Museums

Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre, Prince William County

Bristoe Station Battlefield / Ben Lomond Historic Site

Carlyle House Historic Park

Chevra T’helim Synagogue - Jewish Museum and Cultural Center

Children's Museum of Virginia

Chippokes Farm and Forestry Museum

Christiansburg Institute

Chrysler Museum of Art

College of William & Mary

Colonial Williamsburg Foundation

Colvin Run Mill Historic Site

Contemporary Art Center of Virginia

Cooperstown Graduate Program

Courthouse Galleries

DAR Museum

Danville Science Center

Daura Gallery

DEA Museum & Visitors Center

Economic Development Authority, City of Lynchburg

Edgar Allen Poe Museum

Edith Bolling Wilson Birthplace Museum

Fairfax County Park Authority, Sully Historic Site

Fairfax Station Railroad Museum, Friends of the Fairfax Station

Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond: The Fed Experience

Francis Land House

Fort Monroe Authority

Fredericksburg Area Museum & Cultural Center

Gadsby's Tavern Museum

Garden City Cultural & Historical Society

Gari Melchers Home and Studio at Belmont

Genex Showcase Miniature Museum

George Washington University

George Washington's Fredericksburg Foundation

Hampton History Museum

Hampton Roads Naval Museum

Henrico Co. Recreation and Parks Historic Preservation and Museum Services

Henricus Historical Park, Henricus Foundation

Heritage Farm Museum

Heritage Preservation

Hermitage House and Gardens

Historic Crab Orchard Museum

Historic Smithfield Plantation

Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation

Ker Place, ESVA Historical Society

Legacy Museum of African American History

Library of Virginia

Lightship PORTSMOUTH

Longwood University

Lynchburg Museum System

Mariners' Museum

Mary Ball Washington Museum

Marymount University

Maymont

Military Aviation Museum

Monticello

Montpelier

Morven Park

Mosby Heritage Area Association

Muscarelle Museum of Art, College of William & Mary

Museum of Culpeper History

Museum of the Confederacy

Museum of the Virginia Horse (proposed)

National D-Day Memorial

National Museum of the Marine Corps

National Parks Service

Nauticus, National Maritime Center

New Market Battlefield State Historical Park

Newtown History Center of the Stone House Foundation

Norfolk Botanical Garden

Office of the Secretary of Education, VA Dept. of Ed.

Ohef Sholom Temple Archives

Old City Cemetery Museum & Arboretum

Old Coast Guard Station

Patrick County Historical Society & Family Research Center

Paul’s Catholic Church (1804)

Petersburg Museums

Petersburg National Battlefield

Portsmouth Historical Association

Portsmouth Museums

Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum

Preservation Virginia

Prince William County Historic Preservation

Princess Anne County Training School / Union Kempsville High School Museum

Reedville Fishermen's Museum

Richmond County Museum

Robert Russa Moton Museum

Sargent Museum, Louisa County Historical Society

Smith College Museum of Art

Smithsonian Institution, U.S. Postal Museum

SR Historical Society

Stone House Foundation

Stonewall Jackson House

Stratford Hall Plantation, Robert E. Lee Memorial Association

Sweet Briar College Tusculum Institute

Taubman Museum of Art

The Heritage Museum / Harrisonburg-Rockbridge Historical Society

The Montpelier Foundation

Thomas Jefferson Foundation

Thomas Jefferson's Poplar Forest

Tidewater Community College’s Visual Arts Center

Town of Blacksburg

Tradoc Military History Office

Trinity Episcopal Church

U.S. Army TRADOC

U.S. Army Transportation Museum

University Collections of Art & History, Washington & Lee University

Valentine Richmond History Center

Virginia Air & Space Center

Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center

Virginia Beach Historic Houses, Francis Land House

Virginia Center for the Creative Arts

Virginia Commonwealth University

Virginia Conservation Association

Virginia Foundation for the Humanities

Virginia Historical Society

Virginia Holocaust Museum

Virginia Living Museum

Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

Virginia National Guard

Virginia Sports Hall of Fame

Virginia Tech Department of History

Virginia Tourism Corporation

Warren Heritage Society

William King Museum: Center for Art & Cultural Heritage

William R. and Norma B. Harvey Library, Hampton University

Wilton House Museum / NSCDA-VA

Workhouse Arts Center, Lorton Arts Foundation



Conference Sponsors



A Touch of Technology, Inc.

Armada Hoffler

Brutti's

Capitol Exhibit Services, Inc.

Chrysler Museum of Art

Cinebar Productions, Inc.

Courthouse GalleriesFlower Guild

Creation Station LLC

Creative Company, Inc.

Curtis Group

Design 3 / Museum Rails

Dorfman Museum Figures, Inc.

Ecorite Imaging

EXPLUS

Friends of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum

Glave & Holmes Associates

Gropen, Inc.

HealyKohler Design

Hollinger Metal Edge

Lynchburg College Continuing Education Dept.

Markel Insurance

Pace Collaborative

Peninsula Museums Forum

Plumeria Flowers & Gifts

PortsEvents

Portsmouth Historical Assoc.

Portsmouth Museums

Portsmouth Museums Found.

Riggs Ward Design

Seaber Turner Publications

Sterling Brownell Travel

StudioAMMONS

Stumpf and Associates

The Curtis Group

The Design Minds

VAM Council

Virginia Foundation for the Humanities

Virginia Sports Hall of Fame

Visual Arts Center, TCC at Olde Towne

Volunteers of the Courthouse Galleries

Conference Exhibitors

Accelerando-The CounterPoint Solution

Biscotti Goddess

Capitol Exhibit Services, Inc.

Charlotte Van & Storage, Inc.

Cinebar Productions, Inc.

Citie of Henricus

Creation Station LLC

Creative Company

Curatour

Design 3 / Museum Rails

Design Masters

Dorfman Museum Figures

Ecorite Imaging

EXPLUS, Inc.

Gaylord Bros.

Glasbau HAHN

Glave & Holmes Associates

Gropen, Inc,.

HealyKohler Design, LLC

Highway Information Media LLC

Hollinger Metal Edge

Howell Creative Group

IBS - Museum Management Softward

Keith Fabry, Inc.

MBA Design & Display Products Corporation

Manask & Associates

Mark Lencke, Registered Investment Adviser

Markel Insurance Company

National Trust Insurance Services

Navis Pack and Ship

OnCell Communications

Optima Health

Peninsula Museums Forum

Quatrefoil Associates

Re:discovery Software

RiggsWard Design

Rudinec & Associates

Seaber Turner Publications

Spacesaver Corp.

Sterling Brownell Travel

Stories Past

Studio Displays, Inc.

StudioAMMONS

The Design Minds, Inc.

The Donning Company Publishers

U.S. Art Company

Visual Impressions

Westmoore Pottery



Business Representatives Speaking

StudioAMMONS

Charles H. Bentz Associates

Glave & Holmes Associates

The Curtis Group

CJMW Architecture

National Trust Insurance Services, LLC

Williams Mullin

Williamsburg Art Conservation

Curtis Group

WWW.MUSEUMMOVEMENTTECHNIQUES.COM



Business Participants

Sarah Brophy, BMuse

Jeanne Niccolls (consultant)



(as of February 24, 2011)

Children’s Museum of Virginia - New Education Classroom Opens Soon

The Children’s Museum of Virginia is just about finished with its long and full renovation and expansion to their site in Olde Towne Portsmouth. When you come to the VAM Conference in March you can take a “sneak peek” and see what we are so very excited about. For instance our new education space on the second floor, “Imagination Classroom,” is just what the educators on the staff have been waiting for.

To assist them in their efforts to help visitors learn and understand science in the world, the education staff is very pleased to have a dedicated space devoted to educational programming. Primarily the room will be used for class visits and field trips and is also well suited for a variety of activities including Family Fun Days and other special events.

Coupled with strong pre and post visit materials for their classroom at school it is our desire that we become a strong contributor to the classroom instruction experience.

The picture (below) shows the size and general layout of the room. Furniture and equipment will be added before we open and our education staff is eager to get started. Be sure to take the tour on Monday evening and imagine the possibilities with us!

* Editor's note: Read our conference update and find out more about sessions for educators at the conference!


Christyne Matyseck, Museum Educator
Al Schweizer, Site Manager
Children's Museum of Virginia