Department of Museum Studies
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Browsing Department of Museum Studies by Author "Caston, Ellie."
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Item Bringing the Mayborn Museum Complex discovery boxes into the 21st century.(2011-05-12T15:21:11Z) Buonafede, Maria.; Caston, Ellie.; Museum Studies.; Baylor University. Dept. of Museum Studies.Museums have realized the sustaining benefits of school partnerships over the last fifty years and are better meeting the needs of teachers through outreach. This project focuses on one successful outreach program employed at the Mayborn Museum Complex in Waco, TX called Discovery Boxes. Discovery Boxes are thematic kits containing related 3-D objects, media, books and lessons to aid teachers in science and social studies. This project consisted of redesigning elements of selected boxes based on evaluation from area classroom teachers, in order to increase their accessibility and effectiveness. In order to evaluate these boxes, interviews were conducted with six elementary school teachers who had previously used the Discovery Boxes. The feedback provided from these teachers guided the redesigning of the boxes; and the same teachers then used the redesigned boxes in their classrooms. The teachers evaluated the redesigned boxes and made further recommendations. This project also includes a brief literature review of museum-school partnerships and outreach throughout history and the specific development of Discovery Boxes at the Mayborn Museum Complex. The results of the project provide recommendations to staff at the Mayborn Museum Complex for the continuation of redesigning the remaining Discovery Boxes. The process and recommendations can also be used as a model by other museums with similar outreach programs.Item Engage, explore, enjoy : an internship at the Mayborn Museum Complex.(2014-06-11) Embry, Anastasia Elise.; Caston, Ellie.; Museum Studies.; Baylor University. Dept. of Museum Studies.This internship was at the Mayborn Museum Complex, a part of Baylor University, in Waco, Texas and was completed in the summer of 2013. I interned in the Promotions and Events Department full-time for ten weeks. My main responsibility was managing teen volunteers. I also participated in other aspects of promotions and events, including membership processing, taking promotional photographs of the museum, assisting in event planning, and giving tours.Item Engaging visitors in historic buildings : Dallas Heritage Village's revitalization project in the Citizen's Bank building.(2012-08-08) Cavenah, Kelli A.; Caston, Ellie.; Museum Studies.; Baylor University. Dept. of Museum Studies.Although most museums have transformed from dim, dusty, quiet places of private intellectual pursuits into vibrant, educational institutions, many historic homes and buildings have struggled to make the leap into the hands-on learning models so many museums today put into practice. This project concentrates on the revitalization project being conducted at Dallas Heritage Village in Dallas, Texas, and how the staff is endeavoring to bring learning in historic homes and buildings to life through hands-on and more engaging educational approaches. A brief literature review examines the history of education in museums with an emphasis on newer approaches to learning, especially in historic homes and buildings. The goal of the project was to determine what types of educational activities would be successful in the Citizen's Bank building as a part of Dallas Heritage Village's revitalization project. This Master's project utilized Dallas Heritage Village staff interviews, on-site observations and surveys, and visitor feedback in order to determine the engagement level, likeability, and learning potential of the proposed hands-on activities. Visitor groups examined for this project consisted of drop-in family groups and scheduled school groups, in both directed and free-choice learning situations. Feedback and data was gathered and used for activity modifications before a second round of surveys and observations was conducted. The results of the project indicate an increase in engaging visitors with the use of simple educational activities that can be used by Dallas Heritage Village as they continue their revitalization project. The process and outcomes may also be useful for other organizations with similar needs or buildings, as it demonstrates useful methods of data gathering and provides insight into interpretation options available for historic homes and buildings.Item From private collection to public exhibit : designing a Native American Exhibit at the Houston Museum of Natural Science.(2014-09-05) Young, Kathleen Marie, 1990-; Caston, Ellie.; Museum Studies.; Baylor University. Dept. of Museum Studies.The project, From Private Collection to Public Exhibit, involved evaluating a large collection of Native American artifacts at the Houston Museum of Natural Science and using those artifacts to create an object-based exhibit. During this process an exhibit topic was formed, objects were chosen to be included in the exhibit, and text panels and object labels were written. The final product included a 49-page document featuring the correct text and object groupings, a 30-page object list with photographs and object dimensions, and a 2-page exhibit overview summarizing the exhibit.Item From vision to verity : the Mayborn Museum Complex Oral History Project.(2014-01-28) Sielaff, Steven K.; Caston, Ellie.; Museum Studies.; Baylor University. Dept. of Museum Studies.The Mayborn Museum Complex Oral History Project documents the capital campaign, design, construction and formal dedication in 2004 of the Mayborn Museum Complex at Baylor University through the use of oral history interviews. No prior effort to record this period of the institution’s history had been made at the time of this project. While certain primary source materials are available documenting various facets of this history, it was determined that the vast wealth of information rested in the memories of certain individuals who played key roles in the new museum’s development and creation. Therefore a pure oral history project, using primary sources as background research materials, was chosen as the ideal course of action.Item Master's internship : final thoughts and reflection.(2013-09-24) Wheat, Megan Rose.; Caston, Ellie.; Museum Studies.; Baylor University. Dept. of Museum Studies.My internship was completed during the summer of 2012 at the Mayborn Museum Complex, a part of Baylor University, in Waco, Texas. I worked full-time for ten weeks as a member of the Promotions and Events Department. My main responsibilities included assisting the Assistant Coordinator of Volunteers with managing the volunteers as well as participating in planning for events and learning about how the Mayborn maintains its social media, membership program, and changing exhibits.Item Museums and social change : supporting community needs equals stronger partnerships.(2011-05-12T15:38:32Z) Hewlett, Allison.; Caston, Ellie.; Museum Studies.; Baylor University. Dept. of Museum Studies.As museums seek to demonstrate public value by reaching a more diverse and often underserved audience, they are creating partnerships and programs designed to support community needs. This project focuses on a partnership formed between the Mayborn Museum Complex (MMC) at Baylor University in Waco, TX, and the Greater Waco Education Alliance's Best Practices Reading Program (BPRP), a literacy organization that aims to improve reading skills of local students. The purpose of the partnership was to support the goals of a community organization by offering special learning opportunities in the museum. This project sought to support goals of the BPRP through two visits to the MMC, where students and volunteers in the program participated in educational activities designed to foster four goals, including providing opportunities for informal assessment of reading skills. Observations, in-person interviews and online surveys with BPRP volunteers provided feedback to design each visit, and to evaluate whether the goals of the partnership were met. This project includes a brief literature review of the history of museums and community involvement, including the attempts of museum leaders to broaden the role of museums in society by providing direct services to their communities. The results of the project provide recommendations to the MMC, and other museums, that will facilitate future partnerships to meet community needs. This project demonstrates the benefits of such partnerships, and identifies the challenges in creating and sustaining them.Item Redesigning the Recycle Discovery Room at the Mayborn Museum.(2013-09-16) Knight, Kathryn B.; Caston, Ellie.; Museum Studies.; Baylor University. Dept. of Museum Studies.This project revolves around the redesign of the Recycle Discovery Room at the Mayborn Museum Complex. The room has been redesigned to expand the topic of recycling to include sustainability, thus the renaming of the room as the Sustainability Room. The project focuses on the process of design and the challenges that come with designing an exhibit.Item Uncharted Waters: Navigating a Summer of Transitions My Summer Internship at the Mayborn Museum(2017-06-22) Dorssey, Colby; Caston, Ellie.; Museum Studies.; Baylor University.; Baylor University. Dept. of Museum Studies.This internship presentation explores the complex issues that surround coming into and working in a museum during a time of change. The PowerPoint examines my summer internship at the Mayborn Museum during the summer of 2015. The presentation highlights my duties as the graduate intern and the transitions which I experienced during the summer. I also analyze how my experiences helped me grow and what I learned in twelve weeks.