Education at the Pawnee Earth Lodge

Tony Perry

Opened 1977, Recently rennovated fall 2006

Enter through Native American exhibit, easy to find

Walk in you see the night sky overhead, interact with the constellations, introduced to their mythology

Full reconstruction of pawnee lodge inside

3+1+1 Unique Experiences

Public Program, docent lead

Walk-in, no docent

Student Program (2-12)

Connection to Playlab

Web Resources

3 ways to experience inside the museum, 1 in the pre-planning/post phase, 1 if you're with playlab-aged children

Walk-in, no docent

SpaceLarge, built for groups

Place to sit down

ContextStart with the stars

labels?

The space is very large, clearly designed for groups. Separate from other galleries makes it more quite and there are even places to sit down! Lends itself for social interaction (inter and intra group). Full of 'recognizable' objects, easy place to enter inquiry.

The only labels are outside introducing you to the mythology of the people through the constellations. A keen person will use the constellations as a guide (know to look up in the middle, orient the lodge on the compass) to begin exploration. You can't help but interact with the rest.

Public Program, docent lead

Advertised at the information desk

Two docents

Hook: come on in, grab a buffalo skin!

Informal, conversational

Pleasant

Walked in, found a program and that's what I decided to do. Volunteer at info. Had no idea what was going to happen. I showed up ~10 minutes early, walked in to find two docents seated and chatting. I was the only one. I looked around for a while, then inquired about the program. They said they'd do one if they gathered critical mass, but could answer my questions. Super knowledgable, 'museum regulars' Great hook but they didn't ever really follow it up. Info dumped. Elderly, not keen to stand up and interact with guests AND objects simultaneously. Wanted to talk to children, families. Reached 11 people, no program.

Student Program (2-12)

Guided Student Tours

Docent lead (same as public programs)

Examine touchable objects and learn about traditional Native American Pawnee culture, culture change and contemporary Pawnee life.

Claim to work towards ILS standards, but no proof

Advertisted as FREE guided student tours 45 min. program offered (with pre-registration) 10, 10:45, 11:30. Listed it fit with state goals but HOW? Yes, educators will be familiar but they can't pre-judge 45 minutes based off one paragraph.

Docent at public program said they facilitate the student programs, too. Each 'has their own way' but he liked to start at the buffalo and explain to them. Docents aren't aware of state goals, how do we know they're teaching to them at the right level? No suggested pre, post experience activities. Stand alone experience

Connection to Playlab

Model in playlab

Staff there model scaffolding behavior

Model outside the lodge

Parents and children can interact with earth lodge 'doll house Staff there is equipped to provide parents with support to scaffold children's inquiry-based learning. With that experience parents are better equipped to scaffold learning in the lodge. Great experience, if it happens (no reason to expect it should).

Model outside the lodge is recall to something familiar, comfortable. Builds that great environment, excitement.

Web Resources

Permanent Exhibits

Reopening Press Release

Ancient Americas Connection

Education

Permanent:- 1 paragraph. Not terribly descriptive. At least it made it to the website!

- Re opening Press Release, more history of exhibit.

- Listed as connection to Ancient Americas. Two whole paragraphs!

- Education gives just that one paragraph

Pre planning is weak, not a great resource for further information when I come home (not even first google hit).

Conversation is King

Content is just something to talk about

-Cory Doctorow

The pawnee earth lodge is designed to offer the most comfortable sociocultural context. Because it is full of common objects there a great space to begin a personal exploration and the lack of labels allow for complete control. However more could be done to facilitate a better sociocultural experience and personal experience. We want to learn content interesting/relevant to us and share it with others, in our own way. The place is the first step, and they've got it, but giving me what I want. A great space for conversation with all sorts of people (or none) and we're all equipped to begin the conversation. Loved it.