What's Up - Your guide to what's happening in Fayetteville, AR this week!
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AUGUST 30-SEPTEMBER 5, 2020 WHAT'S UP! 9 developing a virtual museum platform for teachers to access online content through videos and downloadable activities." It has been quite the learning curve, adds Ashley Sayers, one of the museum's two education assistants. "I would say that the challenge of going virtual would definitely be learning how to use video editing software," she says. "Before this, neither Glen Christophersen, our other museum educator, nor I, had ever used any kind of video editing software. We were learning to use it as we were making the videos for the Kid's Craft Corner, and we had to learn a lot very quickly. "The rewards to going virtual would probably also be learning how to use video editing software, because now we have a new skill — and also still being able to reach our visitors and still provide them with educational programs." Like Barnett, Sayers thinks there are some benefits to "going virtual," among them being able to shoot more videos on location to support whatever topic they're discussing. "We are also able to reach more people by going virtual than we could physically. "Schools and parents can go to our website, www. rogershistoricalmuseum.org, and find a list of the programs that we are offering this year, as well as the program descriptions and the curriculum frameworks that each program meets," she explains. "In September, they will be able to begin signing up for all the programs they want, also by going to our website, and once they do that, they will be sent a link where they can access the program. We are currently working on the best platform for teachers and parents to use their link and access the programs they signed up for." But she misses getting to know the students most of all. "I think the first thing that Glen and I want to do when we can do a live education program is just talk to the students and ask how they are and build those relationships up again," she says. "We're really glad that we can still connect to them virtually during the pandemic, but we're so used to being able to interact with the students in real time and get to know them a little bit because that was a big part of our job, so it's been a little weird for us not to have that aspect of the job for the last few months." Barnett says she still has no date set for the museum to physically reopen. "As the museum is a department of the city of Rogers, we are taking our lead from the mayor and City Council," she explains. "When they feel that we can safely reopen, we will. Until then, we don't know when that will be, and so we're making the best of the situation that we can. "We are currently working on protocols to follow," she adds. "Some of the purpose of redesigning some of our galleries was to restructure the exhibits so that they don't require touch interactions. When we do reopen, we want to make it as safe of an environment as possible for our visitors, volunteers and staff." But when she can, Barnett knows what she wants to do first. "If possible, I'd like to have a special event to welcome our visitors back and showcase all the work we've done behind closed doors." One of the new additions to the Rogers Historical Museum galleries is this barn. (Courtesy Photo/Rogers Historical Museum) Education assistants Ashley Sayers and Glen Christophersen have spent some of the summer learning about video editing software and filming segments of the AT HOME Kid's Craft Corner. (Courtesy Photos) The 1895 Hawkins House, one of the first homes of the Rogers Historical Museum, is currently undergoing some renovations while it is closed to the public. The collections that normally fill the house have been moved into storage. (Courtesy Photos) "We wanted to commemorate this event with a special exhibit saluting many of the women in America who contributed to the National Women's Suffrage Movement and those who have in these past 100 years used their democratic voices to make a difference in our society." — Serena Barnett