Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Date

2025

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education

Department

Leadership & Policy Studies

Committee Chair

Wendy Griswold

Committee Member

Charisse Gulosino

Committee Member

Edith Gnanadass

Committee Member

Lillian Hill

Abstract

Drawing on constructivism, this multiple case study examined the museum’s role in society as a place for learning. The purpose of the study was to describe how these museums provide constructivist educational programming that connects museum collections to the communities where they are located and promotes social justice by creating a gathering place for people to discuss contemporary issues. The research question directing this study is “how do the National Gallery of Art and the National Civil Right Museum’s adult education programs connect with the communities where they are located and promote social justice?” This multiple case study analyzed learning experiences through staff interviews along with virtual and in-person observations in two urban museums, located in Memphis, TN and Washington, DC. Designing credible research case studies based on adult educational programming in the museum to promote trust in the research outcomes of this dissertation required a rigorous process of design, data collection, thematic analysis, and reporting. This study analyzed observations and interviews about museum staff’s perspectives on the relationship of museum education to social justice in their communities through thematic analysis. Written during and after the largest global pandemic in history, this dissertation focuses on the formal, informal and distance education available for adults at both museums. Members of the community provide input on exhibitions and help develop programming based on contemporary issues in society. The findings of this study indicate that the collaboration is similar at both museums, with the goal of promoting social justice by elevating voices, opinions and stories from different social, cultural and minority groups in the community that previously have gone unheard.

Comments

Data is provided by the student.

Library Comment

PDF

Notes

Open access.

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