Engage Families

Encouraging family learning in museums and libraries

  • Family Learning
    • What It Is
    • Why It’s Important
    • The Family Audience
    • Resources
  • Exhibits
    • Design Strategies
    • Drafting Text
    • Steal This Idea
    • Resources
  • Programs
    • Setting Goals
      • Actively Engaging All Ages
      • Content and Learning
    • Design Strategies
      • Authenticity
      • Distinctiveness
      • Relevance and Connections
      • Environment and Set Up
      • Setting Expectations
      • Inclusionary Design for Everyone: Flexibility and Access
      • Encouraging Conversation
      • Layering Content
      • Fun & Play
      • Continuing the Experience
    • Facilitation
      • Establishing Engagement
      • Maintaining Engagement
      • Maximizing Engagement
      • Conclusion: Ending on a High Note
      • Hiring and Training Facilitators
    • Steal This Idea
    • Resources
  • Evaluation & Prototyping
    • Evaluation
    • Exhibit Prototyping
    • Program Prototyping
    • Revising Programs
    • Resources
  • About
    • 2013-2016 Engage Families Project
    • 2004-2011 Family Learning Project
    • Contact Us
Home / Archives for Programs / Design Strategies

Distinctiveness

Distinctiveness

Research Summary Families value experiences they can’t get at home or haven’t experienced somewhere else. Tips & Takeaways What is it that people can do, see, hear, touch, and learn at your site that they can’t do elsewhere or at home? Find the twist that makes your program topic distinct or unique to your institution. […]

Filed Under: Design Strategies

Layering Content

Layering Content

Research Summary Layer content so that individual members of the family with their own needs and interests can find something that interests them. It can be subtle or overt. Think about various formats you can incorporate (images, objects, books, activities). That way, there’s more opportunity for people to connect to something that interests them and […]

Filed Under: Design Strategies

Continuing the Experience

Continuing the Experience

Research Summary The experience doesn’t have to end when the program ends. Adult caregivers are looking for ways to “extend” their programmatic experiences in order to encourage their children’s learning. Parents have the right idea because research proves that people of all ages learn from assimilating experiences and making relevance from them. This is done […]

Filed Under: Design Strategies

Fun & Play

Fun & Play

Research Summary Adult caregivers seek out fun and enjoyable experiences for their family to experience together. In addition, research proves that a child’s play leads directly to positive social, cultural, and educational growth. Parent and adult involvement in a child’s play increases the efficacy of that play. However, parents are not always comfortable or don’t […]

Filed Under: Design Strategies Tagged With: play, program design and development

Encouraging Conversation

Research Summary Research shows that social interaction within families leads to overall enjoyment and learning because it helps families develop a shared knowledge, better understanding of each other, and family memories. Tips & Takeaways Get people talking to you and, more importantly, each other. Design discussion prompts into the program Add opportunities for problem-solving, teamwork, collaboration, […]

Filed Under: Design Strategies Tagged With: conversation, program design and development

Environment and Set Up

Environment and Set Up

Research Summary Your program’s environment and set up can complement the multigenerational nature of your program or hinder it. Program spaces should be comfortable and inviting to families, as well as accessible and flexible, in order to fit the needs of diverse families. Tips & Takeaways Adding appropriate context to your environment can help family […]

Filed Under: Design Strategies Tagged With: accessible, environment, multi-sided, multi-user, program design and development

Authenticity

Authenticity

Research Summary Research shows that the public wants to feel that they are participating in authentic activities. Choose a topic that maintains “content integrity” (fits your mission, collections, displays, and content), so that participants feel it is authentic to your institution. Then, whenever possible, use authentic materials in authentic environments. Tips & Takeaways Try to […]

Filed Under: Design Strategies Tagged With: authenticity

Inclusionary Design for Everyone: Flexibility and Access

Inclusionary Design for Everyone: Flexibility and Access

Research Summary Everyone is different, so design multiple entry points into your program so there’s something to appeal to everyone. Once you have everyone involved, flexibility is key. Plan ahead for all contingencies during the design process to ensure success for your facilitators. Designing for multi-modality, multi-user, multi-outcomes, and family agency and choice make a […]

Filed Under: Design Strategies

Relevance and Connections

Relevance and Connections

Research Summary People find resonance in concepts and experiences they can relate to. Research shows that learning and memory-making are more likely to occur when people can connect their experiences with familiar ideas and events. Incorporating the reflective process into your program allows visitors the opportunity to digest and process what they experienced during the program. Tips & […]

Filed Under: Design Strategies Tagged With: personal connections and relevancy

Setting Expectations

Setting Expectations

Research Summary Without even meaning to, program designers can send cues to adults that their participation is not desirable. We must be aware of the invisible messages we send in our design and facilitation and insure we invite everyone to participation and make them comfortable doing so. Tips & Takeaways Explicitly invite adult participation at […]

Filed Under: Design Strategies

Engage Families

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Engage Families is a project of the USS Constitution Museum
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Funded by

Funding for Engage Families is provided by the Institute of Museum & Library Services
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