Evaluating a Museum-Based Professional Learning Community as a Model for Art Education Leadership Development

Abstract

In alignment with the National Art Education Association’s (NAEA) 2015-2020 Strategic Vision, Enid Zimmerman conducted an evaluation of Summer Vision DC (SVDC), an NAEA-sponsored, museum-based art education professional learning community program. The purpose was twofold: to provide feedback to the leaders of the program (including Renee Sandell, program director), and to create a model for art education leadership programs in school and museum settings. Background information about the program is followed by a description of the evaluation design and research process, including a conceptual framework, data analyses, interpretations of an online survey and focus group meeting, and feedback from the program leaders. We conclude this study with explanations about the impact of the program and revisions and outcomes that were initiated to reinforce quality leadership in a professional learning community. We offer recommendations for further professional development using the SVDC leadership model for developing personal, collaborative, and public voice that can take place in diverse educational contexts.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Photos were taken by the director and evaluator of the SVDC program. All 200 participants of the SVDC program signed a release agreeing to have their artwork and photographs used in any future publications. The artwork is by the evaluator (Figures 5 and 8) and the faces in the photographs have been masked to ensure anonymity as a practice in this type of research.

Figure 1. Portable Studio with SVDC visual journal.

Figure 2. Thurber/Zimmerman Development of Voice in an In-service Education Model.

Figure 3. Group discussion in a museum.

Figure 4. SVDC participants create impressions of a sculpture.

Figure 5. Zimmerman’s journal page exploring Noguchi’s sculpture.

Figure 6. SVDC group collaborates on a design thinking activity.

Figure 7. Focus group meeting at the NAEA convention.

Figure 8. New Eyes Map—Zimmerman’s final visual meditation about her SVDC experience.

Notes

¹ Renee Sandell initiated and named, designed, developed, directed, and delivered this program for NAEA since 2010.

² This pilot was not continued due to the museum’s commitment to its own local programs and initiatives.

³ SVDC Program Director Renee Sandell served as a SAL planning consultant and program guide for the first SAL program in 2015. From 2015 through 2019, Enid Zimmerman and Robert Sabol serve as SAL program co-evaluators.