Original Ideas: Fostering Innovation in Museum Education
12 Days of Christmas Day 7
Welcome back to the 12 Days of Christmas: Museum Education Edition!
Today’s episode dives into fostering creativity and originality in museum education programs, inspired by Adam Grant’s book, Originals.
Key Insights
The Innovative Nature of Museum Education
Museum education was founded with a a forward-thinking spirit by professionals who dared to challenge the field’s status quo. When we do the same, we are in good company!
Remember, even small actions can have big rewards in your efforts to enhance inclusivity, human-centered design, and rich visitor experiences.
Fostering Originality and Innovation
Try challenging assumptions — yours and others by flipping tour narratives, rethinking interactivity, or reimagining reflective spaces.
Have you ever tried blue sky thinking? Use this method to generate bold, unrestricted ideas and uncover feasible, transformative solutions.
Embrace an abundance mindset. Shift your focus from limitations to possibilities in order to reawaken imaginative problem-solving.
Creating a Culture of Creativity
Encourage your staff to ask "what if" questions and support risk-taking without fear of failure.
Work to establish psychological safety to foster idea-sharing across teams.
Leverage external partnerships to bring fresh perspectives into your programs.
The Role of Iteration and Experimentation
Original ideas require constant refinement. Success comes from allowing ideas to grow and evolve.
Check out the episode on your favorite podcast player!
Actionable Takeaways
Host a brainstorming day with staff from all departments.
Experiment with new tour flows or activity designs.
Challenge one small status quo element in your programming next year.
Resources Mentioned
Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World by Adam Grant
One Final Thought:
Originality thrives in an environment that celebrates curiosity and innovation. As museum educators, we have endless opportunities to push boundaries and inspire meaningful change.
Looking for the transcript? Find it here.
