Early Childhood Interpretation Internship
Early Childhood Interpretation Internship Museum of Science, Bostonwww.mos.org
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:
The Museum's early childhood program is based in the Discovery Center - an exciting, 4,200 square-foot learning center designed for our youngest visitors (children ages birth to 8 years) and their caregivers. Discovery Center exhibits allow children to explore a variety of real objects and age-appropriate tools, all set in immersive fantasy environments that encourage learning through play. Children and their caregivers are engaged in activities, experiments and conversations in order to experience the reward of discovering on their own, as they explore a wide variety of Science, Engineering and Math topics while developing age-appropriate skills in these disciplines. The Discovery Center's "Living Laboratory" program brings cognitive scientists from local university and hospital labs onto the exhibit floor to converse with adult caregivers about the scientific study of how children learn, and invite families to participate in active research studies. Volunteer and staff interpreters play a crucial role in facilitating visitors' experiences, helping children develop their emerging science and engineering skills, and helping adult caregivers' better understand the science of child development. Outside of the Discovery Center exhibition, early childhood staff and interns engage young visitors and their caregivers in a variety of hands-on activities in the Museums' exhibit halls. Early Learner Drop-in programs in the Museums' galleries combine educator-facilitated activities and caregiver-led explorations of exhibits to create exciting and novel opportunities for our youngest visitors and their grownups to explore all the Museum has to offer.
POSITION SUMMARY:
Early Childhood Interpretation Interns are integral in providing high-quality, hands-on programming to the Museum's youngest visitors and their caregivers. The Intern will assist in the daily operations of the Discovery Center program by interpreting and maintaining exhibit components, assisting in professional development for Volunteers, and interfacing with collaborating scientists from local research institutions who study children's learning. Early Childhood Interpretation Interns complete an intensive museum interpretation training program during the first 6 weeks of the internship, and then use skills developed in training to complete a project that enhances the visitor experience.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Interact directly with Museum visitors, by facilitating hands-on activities for young children and their caregivers and providing them with the means to use and understand real objects and science tools.
- Ensure that exhibit spaces are presentable and consistently ready for visitor use, including some light cleaning and maintenance of Discovery Center components and equipment.
- Assist in providing professional development opportunities for Discovery Center volunteers, and for researchers participating in the Living Laboratory program.
- Complete projects, which may include the development, written documentation and/or evaluation of science thinking activities and assisting in research into how children learn.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
- High School degree or equivalency (including undergraduate students, graduate students or career changers).
- Demonstrated interest in education; interest in informal science education preferred.
- Demonstrated experience in science, engineering or education (through coursework or the workplace).
- Demonstrated communication skills (written and verbal)
- Demonstrated ability to work with people of all ages, including experience working with young children.
- Highly motivated, dependable, and flexible. Students in Early Childhood Education, Child Development or Developmental Psychology are strongly encouraged to apply.
LENGTH OF INTERNSHIP:
Fall 2018 August/September-December/January
WORK SCHEDULE:
21 hours/wk (3 days: 9am-5pm). Interns have a one-hour lunch break each day. One of the work days MUST be Friday, Saturday or Sunday. Candidates able to work through winter break(Through Janaury 7, 2019) preferred
STARTING SALARY:
Unpaid and/or for course credit (must specify interest in course credit in cover letter)
Special Note: Candidates able to commit through end of August preferred
BENEFITS:
Intern benefits include free parking in the Museum garage, close proximity to the Green Line, free admission, discounts in the Museum store and café and much more!
The Museum of Science is fully committed to Equal Employment Opportunity and to attracting, retaining, developing and promoting the most qualified employees without regard to their race, gender, color, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, citizenship status, veteran status, or any other characteristic prohibited by federal, state or local law. We are dedicated to providing a work environment free from discrimination and harassment, and where employees are treated with respect and dignity.
No phone inquiries, please. Qualified applicants will be contacted within two to four weeks of initial application.
For more information, or to apply now, you must go to the website below. Please DO NOT email your resume to us as we only accept applications through our website.
https://www.applicantpro.com/j/849502-45312