Monthly Blog Assignment August: MISSION 2: FIRST DAY AT THE CALIFORNIA SCIENCE CENTER / Reflection

Hello, everyone. Benny here. Today's blog is going to be a reflective blog post about my first day at California Science Center. I'll be comparing my work and observations from the California Science Center with that of Planes of Fame and Imperial War Museum Duxford. If you want a more descriptive paragraph about my mentorship duties, please refer to my Mentorship Log (8/30/14). Other than that, let's get started.

Work at the California Science Center is a lot different than from I expected coming from Planes of Fame and Duxford. One of the first things I immediately noticed was the age group of the workers that comprised the Science Center. Most of the workers at the California Science Center were around their early teens to early 30's whereas Planes of Fame had workers from all age groups and Duxford  had workers in their mid-30's to 60's. Another thing I noticed was the different level of guest engagement that the California Science Center had compared to history museums. While exhibits at the science center were more family orientated and interactive, volunteers jobs were generally limited to meet and greet. At Planes of Fame and Duxford,  the volunteers and staff would be more than happy to tell you about the various display pieces, as long as you approach them first that is. The work policy / system of the California Science Center was also something that I noticed. In Duxford and the California Science Center I noticed that the massive scale of the facility, the stable income, and the large amount of staff and volunteers, that there was ALWAYS a staff member located in every exhibit. I also noticed that in the California Science Center, they were strict about what workers can or cannot not do such as smiling at all times, strict break times, and pointing with one finger. Contrasting with this, as Planes of Fame is a smaller and relatively understaffed and under-funded facility, some of the exhibits were poorly maintained such as the unrestored aircraft that rust next to the Fighter Rebuilders building and the little amounts of staff outside of weekends and airshows.

During my work at the science center, I also noticed that a lot my traits that I acquired from iPoly appeared to show when I engaged my audiences. Following my job description, I did not hesitate to I greet anyone who made eye contact with me with a smile, a greeting, initiate a conversation, and / or offer guests any help. This was later confirmed when Mrs. Stephanie congratulated me later for my first day of work. I noticed that other volunteers and workers who didn't have the same background as I did, would often stay in one corner, with their back faced against the wall, reading the descriptions of the exhibits, and / or ignoring the guests that came before them despite their job description saying otherwise.

Well with this I will end my monthly blog. The unique challenges and differences between both Planes of Fame and the California Science Center will allow me to explore major differences and similarities in how museums can run. Until next time, take care everyone.

Blog 4: Interview Preparation

1.

Who do you plan to interview?  Why?

Answer:

I plan to interview to either Ms. Mira or Mrs. Diamond from the California Science Center Volunteer Department because both women are in charge of volunteers at the science center and should have a deeper understanding / knowledge about the inner workings of a museum compared to a regular volunteer.

2.

You have to ask 5 questions.  What additional questions do you plan to ask?  Ask open-ended questions.  What are open-ended questions? Click here! If that doesn't help, try this one.  Click here!

Answer(s):

1. I'm interested in studying, museology. What can you tell me about it?
2. From your perspective, what could I study that would be significant?
3. Who else would you recommend I talk to?
4. What kinds of places or activities do you recommend I do for the mentorship component?
5. What books should I read in this field?

6. What do you define a museum as?

7. What questions are often raised in your job field?

8. How did you come across your job?

9. What are the most important aspects of your job?

10. What kind of knowledge do you need to work in this kind of field (museums)?

11. How has working here changed your perception of museums?

12. What was your perception of your job prior to entering?

13. What is it like to work in a facility of this scale?

14. How long have you worked here?

15. What motivates you to come to work at a museum?

Blog 3: Topic Choice and Working EQ

1.

My topic will be on Museums.

2.

What areas / aspects of a museum are common at ALL museums?

3.

Working Bibliography is posted on the right side of the blog.

Summer Mentorship Component

1.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1_FVBNvaRJebURTPPPjO8IG3Ie5PPE8eUlh97jUNH7lM/edit#gid=0

2.

Cindy Novak, Director of Volunteers at the Planes of Fame Museum Chino, CA

Contact number: (909) 597-3722 (only available on Saturdays)

Contact email: cindy.novak@planesoffame.org

Bernard Olley, Museum Assistant at Duxford Imperial War Museum Duxford, UK

Contact number: +4407759341785 (Museum #)

Contact email: None

Gordon Turner, Conservation Officer at Duxford Imperial War Museum Duxford, UK

Contact number: +4407759341785 (Museum #)

Contact email: None

3.

The following questions were raised during my visits to both museums:

To Bernard Olley:

Q: What is your name?

Q: What is it like to work in a facility of this scale?

Q: You said you were a museum assistant?

Q: As a museum assistant what is the important thing to know about your job / or what to know?

Q: What did you perceive your career before you joined?

Q: What do you think of Duxford compared to other museums?

Q: Why do you continue to work here even though like you said there are more famous museums out here?

Q: I’m trying to focus more on the technical aspects of the pieces so how does knowing that play an important role with the museum experience of the visitor?

To Mr. Gordon Turner:

Q: What is your name?

Q: What do you do here Mr. Turner at Duxford?

Q: What do you think of your field before you joined here?

Q: What do you think of working in this environment with these kinds of people in this kind of environment?

Q: Why did you choose working at Duxford compared to other museums or why?

Q: What is something important to know for someone in your profession?

4.

The most important thing I gained from visiting the Duxford Imperial War Museum and Planes of Fame and talking with the staff is that museum workers can come from different backgrounds such as ex-air force, middle schoolers, art students, college graduates, and aeronautics engineers. Even though they hail from different backgrounds, their love for history and the fact they want to spread their passion through their work is what differentiates a volunteer who only works for a few weeks, compared to one who works for 10+ years.

5.

My senior project topic is going to be about museums and will focus on the many aspects that run a museum. I chose this because my travels to museums across the world have taught me that whenever a group of people take the time to preserve what they can for the future, the end result will be the preservation of their own history. Though I am starting as a cleaner, I hope to learn more about the process that goes behind a museum by working my way up.