Museum Education Assessment: Survey of Practitioners in Florida Art Museums

• Other Authors: Gorman, Amy K. (authoraut)
• Format: Others
• Language: English; English
• Published: Florida State University
• Subjects: Arts; Humanities
• Online Access: http://purl.flvc.org/fsu/fd/FSU_migr_etd-4118

This study identified current attitudes, beliefs, and philosophies guiding practices in art museum education assessment. The evaluation and assessment of educational programming is an increasing concern for museums. Practitioners and researchers have been working for decades on various aspects of evaluating museum programming; however, it is only with recent political, social, and funding pressures that assessment has become a necessity. After an analysis of current and past research in museum education programming and assessment, a survey was sent out to museum educators in the state of Florida. The survey examined the current state of assessment in each institution and probed practitioners to share their own ideas and influences affecting their involvement with assessment. Results found while many practitioners agreed assessment was needed and valued; time, resources, and funding were often deterrents from creating and implementing an assessment system in their institutions. It was found that there is a need for further development of assessment practices and it is necessary for museums to organize and structure evaluation practices in order to create standards and best practices for assessing education programming. === A Dissertation submitted to the Department of Art Education in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. === . === March 21, 2008. === Museum Evaluation, Museum Assessment, Art Museum Education, Museum Experience === Includes bibliographical references. === Pat Villeneuve, Professor Directing Dissertation; Paula Gerson, Outside Committee Member; Tom Anderson, Committee Member; Penny Orr, Committee Member.