Introduction to Learning in Museums

Christina Smiraglia received her doctorate in education policy, leadership, and instructional practice from the Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE), and her research interests include object-based and arts-based learning approaches. She served as a senior researcher at Project Zero, a research center at HGSE, where she worked with multiple research projects, including studies examining the impact of a corporate art collection and exhibition program on the workplace environment, maker experiences for students, art festivals showcasing student and teacher work, stakeholders' perceptions of American liberal arts education, digital intercultural exchange, and global early childhood education initiatives. She also teaches courses on informal learning and audience research methods, serves as a capstone reader, and supervises faculty aides in the Harvard Extension School's museum studies program. Before coming to Harvard, Smiraglia worked in more than a dozen museums, including the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, the J. Paul Getty Museum, the National Air and Space Museum, and the National Zoo. Outside of work, she serves on the board of directors for Massachusetts Odyssey of the Mind, a creative problem solving program for students.

For over 25 years, Lynn Baum worked at the Museum of Science, Boston, where she oversaw school programs and created a suite of youth programs for urban teens. Baum was also the content developer for multiple natural history exhibits, including Natural Mysteries and Modeling the Mesozoic. Currently, as principal of Turtle Peak Consulting, Baum leads museum evaluation and content development projects. Her clients include the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Museum and the Harvard Museum of Natural History. Additionally, Baum co-teaches courses on museum learning and research and evaluation in Harvard Extension School's museum studies program. Baum is a past member of the Board of the Museum Education Roundtable and holds a master's degree in science museum education from Lesley University.