Authors

Collaboration Conversation

Becca Beck — Thu, 09 May 2013 13:00:00 -0400

In March, I wrote a blog post about our collaboration with Decatur Middle School and Valley Mills Elementary School on an activity for our upcoming Indiana Bicentennial Train project. I met with this group of bright young people last week and wanted to share their idea.

The team chose a 1907 railroad map from our collection as the basis for a game visitors can play when they visit the Train this fall. Emma Key, one of the 8th graders on the team, said her objective was to make it active. "We wanted something active with competition, and that's when we got the idea for a game," she says.

Using the railroad routes and stops on the map, visitors will engage in a race to travel across the map. Miniature depot icons will mark where players need to stop and answer a question in order to move forward. The questions will focus on the locations with some broader Indiana history to make connections to the academic standards.

The next step is for the team to write a few questions for each depot site and for the IHS team to figure out the best way to fabricate the map so it is large enough and holds up in the elements. We are excited to work with Decatur Township learners and are looking forward to featuring this activity at the Train!

____________________

Becca Beck is the assistant director of education and communication engagement at IHS. She loves making Indiana history fun for students.

Stuff of Life: Bowling Trophies and Gadgets

Becca Beck — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 15:10:00 -0400

: Gramps

My grandfather passed away three weeks ago. I'm 31 years old, and this is the first grandparent I've lost. I consider myself very lucky.

After the funeral, we gathered at the house to start going through his stuff. The voice behind the stories was gone but the stuff remained. The bowling trophies and golf equipment. The clocks and wind chimes. The crazy as-seen-on-tv gadgets. Pieces of a life well lived.

In the history field, we work with objects from the past all the time. Artifacts are categorized, labeled, assessed and conserved. Decisions about what to keep are based on a collections policy. But I didn't know how to translate my professional knowledge to this personal situation. It was overwhelming to see all of his things knowing he wasn't there.

We each handle death and grief in our own way. I chose to remember my grandpa by taking his bowling pin clock, the 1963 newspaper announcing Kennedy had been shot he had shoved in the rafters of the basement and the teddy bear I made for him when I was little. Each triggers memories of him so they remain out of sight for now. That's how I assigned value to his things – what reminds me of him the most?

So, until I find a great spot for that bowling pin clock, here's to the memory of my grandfather, Kent Loofbourrow. Rest in peace, gramps.

____________________

Becca Beck is the assistant director of education and communication engagement at IHS. She loves making Indiana history fun for students.

Let's Put Our Heads Together

Becca Beck — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 10:45:00 -0500

The Indiana Bicentennial Train will make its debut this fall in northern Indiana. An exhibit on the train will look at pieces of Indiana's 200 years of history while tents outside the train will contain hands-on activities, a first-person interpreter, and a community art space. It will be free to visit, and school groups are encouraged to make a reservation and attend.

While brainstorming activities for the tent, we hit a road block. We knew we wanted to use maps from our library's vast collection but struggled to come up with a way to get young people engaged on site. Our solution was to go straight to the source: collaborate with a school.

Luckily for us, Decatur Township Schools on the southwest side of Indianapolis were already doing project-based learning with their kids. They present learners (students are called learners in this environment) with real-world problems so they can work on solutions that are relevant and usable. Corporate and organizational partners are used as much as possible. Each learner has a netbook and is encouraged to use Twitter to communicate. (Follow them @ApexNTCommunity.)

I met with a small group of bright 6th and 8th graders yesterday and was impressed with their professionalism. I gave them an overview of the train project, a list of suggested maps from our collection and sent them on their way. We regroup in a few weeks to see what ideas they have come up with. I am so excited to work with this group and can't wait to hear their ideas.

Often in our "adult" world, we try to create things we think kids would like. Then, we evaluate our ideas after they have been completed. I challenge my colleagues in the museum world and beyond to think of young people first and get their ideas in the brainstorming phase. Kids are smart – let's treat them that way.

____________________

Becca Beck is the assistant director of education and communication engagement at IHS. She loves making Indiana history fun for students.

How Small Is Too Small?

Becca Beck — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 14:00:00 -0500

Last week I traveled to Carthage Elementary School in Rush County to present a Civil War program to fourth grade history club students. I have visited this school every year for the past eight years and always find myself looking forward to stopping in the less-than-1,000-people town. The people are friendly and the students are excited and attentive. This year, the club has five members, a slight decline from previous years.

Presenting to a small student audience allows me to answer every question asked, go over something again if one student does not understand and personalize my presentation style. During the activity portion of my program, students are divided into teams and read through excerpts of Hoosier soldiers' Civil War letters. They encounter challenging handwriting and grammar but usually pick up the process after a few hints. The Carthage kids worked together as a group of five and helped each other along the way. It was great to see them get so involved in looking at something from the past.

I left Carthage with a bit of sadness because times are changing. How we do outreach has to be redesigned to increase sustainability. In this tough economic climate, it is harder to justify the time and money it takes to serve small groups. But how do we define "small"? And how does the number of students affect the quality of the program? Does outreach need to involve a staff person driving to each school to present or should we focus on digital options? As we approach Indiana's Bicentennial, we hope to find a balance that will keep kids engaged and not break the bank.

____________________

Becca Beck is the assistant director of education and communication engagement at IHS. She loves making Indiana history fun for students.

March Madness!

Becca Beck — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 15:10:00 -0400

One of the things I share with many Hoosiers is a love for the game of basketball. I fill out a bracket every year, hoping the upsets I chose come through. My bracket is already busted (I picked Kansas to win it all) but it’s fun to follow along and cheer for the Indiana teams.

Luckily I have a job that allows me to incorporate my love for March Madness into programs. Two years ago, I led a field trip to the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame for members of the Indiana Junior Historical Society. What a great way to spend a Saturday in March!

This year, Juniors members will be competing in a new program called the Hoosier History Bowl. It is a quiz game based on Indiana history questions. And how appropriate that I have to create a competition bracket for this program! It sounded rather easy when I had the idea but once I started I got tripped up over drawing the actual bracket. I have no artistic ability so thank goodness for computer programs that have drawing tools!

The first annual Hoosier History Bowl will be held on Saturday, April 24, here at the History Center. I hope some of the “madness” from March carries over and the students get psyched up for a great day. Good luck to all participants!

____________________

Becca Loofbourrow is the coordinator of the Indiana Junior Historical Society, a statewide history club for students in grades three through 12. Traveling the state, teaching students about Indiana history, and using a portable microphone are her favorite parts of the job.