Educational Psychology Associate Professor Chris Lawson’s project received 2026-2027 funding from UW-Milwaukee’s Advancing Research and Creativity (ARC) grant. The project is a collaboration with Liz Daniel, teaching faculty in Teaching & Learning.
The award, titled “There and back again: An iterative fieldtrip project to support, engage, and inspire a community of educators from formal and informal learning settings,” aims to create a Community of Practice (CoP) for educational professionals. This project brings together educators from the Milwaukee Art Museum, UW-Milwaukee, and Milwaukee Public Schools.
An extensive body of research details gaps between museum educators and teachers when it comes to learning goals and outcomes in informal learning settings. As it relates to museum educators, there is a significant need for support in curating educational materials and developing educational programming that aligns with state standards. Because museums do not often have connections with educational institutions, building a collaborative CoP will support these goals.
The project’s findings have the potential to provide a useful model for scholars in teacher education and museum studies.