Museum Educator
Job Title
Museum Educator
Day in the Life
Museum educators are responsible for understanding visitors’ needs and engaging them in the informal-learning atmosphere of a museum. They create an atmosphere where visitors can think, feel, and understand meaningful stories about the past and how it relates to their lives. Museum educators organize content to present a historical narrative in enjoyable and thematic ways. They draw on the values of wonder and exploration in providing new cognitive and aesthetic experiences. Museum educators create programs using a variety of communication methods to address audiences with diverse learning styles and needs. They help audiences grasp the importance of the museum’s collections and stories through interpretive interactions which focus and clarify meaning.
Museum educators work with curators, conservators, registrars, publications teams, and public relations staff to produce visually interesting products. These products include pamphlets and publications, exhibition interactives, websites, audiovisual materials, programs tailored to special groups by age or needs, and communication services that engage people from all walks of life. Museum educators are aided in this work by volunteers, known as museum docents; the training and supervision of these docents is also the responsibility of museum educators.
In understanding the visitors’ needs and interests, the museum educator invites expanded and diversified audiences. Museum educators strive to engage visitors through immersive environments, art and artifacts, ideas, presentations, dialogues, and as a whole, the human experience.
Experience Pathway
Museum educators typically possess a bachelor’s degree in museum studies, history, art history, art, or public history. Often candidates have a master’s degree in these subject areas as well as having hands-on experience through internships or employment as a museum educator. Many have worked in cultural or science-based museums as a volunteer prior to their education. This kind of workplace-based experience is encouraged for applicants.
Thoughts from Our Museum Educators
“The rewards of working as an educator at the Church History Museum are many. Our work with visitors is both a science, from research on interpretation and visitor studies, and art, where we personalize experiences for diverse audience members. And we feel immense satisfaction when our programs, tours, and exhibition activities create meaningful memories for our guests.”