A group of 10 people from EdCom posing in front of the AAM offices

Education (EdCom)

The American Alliance of Museums’ Education Professional Network (EdCom) advances the purpose of museums as places of lifelong learning, serves as an advocate for diverse audiences and educators, and promotes professional standards and excellence in the practice of museum education.

Through mentoring, communications, professional development and continuing education, trend tracking, and awards, EdCom works to define, foster, and celebrate promising and next practices in museum education and investigate, articulate, and provoke next practices. EdCom offers something for everyone, from seasoned veterans of museum education looking to continue as life-long learners, or educators new to the field just trying to figure out the basics.

EdCom serves our community by:

  • Sponsoring national awards for excellence in museum education
  • Conceiving and implementing professional development opportunities throughout the year
  • Sharing new and promising information about the informal learning field and the profession via blog posts, social media and EdComversations
  • Offering networking opportunities for those engaged in fostering the educational purposes of museums

Get involved in EdCom by volunteering to serve on a committee. 

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

AAM Member-Only Content

AAM Members get exclusive access to premium digital content including:

  • Featured articles from Museum magazine
  • Access to more than 1,500 resource listings from the Resource Center
  • Tools, reports, and templates for equipping your work in museums
Log In

We're Sorry

Your current membership level does not allow you to access this content.

Upgrade Your Membership

Obtaining Government Funding for Education Programs

By Mae Sevedge & Reggie Lynch
In this series of posts, EdCom’s Trends Committee is taking a deeper look at emerging phenomena identified in the 2020 edition of TrendsWatch from the Center for the Future of Museums. In …

Game Plan Call for Applications! Professional Development for Museum Educators

By Elizabeth Merritt
Logo of Center of the Future of Museum's Space Slug
In 2008, Dr. Jane McGonigal delivered the inaugural lecture for the new Center for the Future of Museums. McGonigal, who is both a professional futurist AND a ludologist, made the case that …

Attracting Charitable Giving through Education Programs

By Lori Kartchner and Mickey Maley
In this series of posts, EdCom’s Trends Committee is taking a deeper look at emerging phenomena identified in the 2020 edition of TrendsWatch from the Center for the Future of Museums. In …

My Primary School is in a Museum—US Pandemic Edition

By Elizabeth Merritt
Logo of Center of the Future of Museum's Space Slug
Can you imagine being a school-age kid during this pandemic? Whether they are glued to a screen trying to learn via Zoom, attending class masked and distanced, or being home-schooled, this …

Related Stories

EdComversations 2.0

By Tony Pennay, Sheri Levinsky-Raskin, and Rebekah Harding
Category: Education & Interpretation
“Who dares to teach, must never cease to learn.”–John Cotton Dana In March, the EdCom Professional Network is launching a new format for our EdComversations. If you haven’t joined us for …

American Alliance of Museums Recognizes Excellence in Museum Educators and Programs

By American Alliance of Museums
AAM Logo on dark green background
Category: Press Release
For Immediate Release ARLINGTON, VA – Two museum programs and one museum professional have gained accolades from the Education Professional Network (EdCom) of the American Alliance of …

Watch an overview of the Museums & Schools: The LA Convening

By Sage Morgan Hubbard
Woman is smiling with her head slightly tilted
Category: Education & Interpretation
Please check out more about our November Museums & Schools: The LA Convening and be ready for the Museums & Schools: Phoenix edition on Sunday, May 6, 2018, at our upcoming annual …

Quick wins for building empathy with visitors: 4 hacks inspired by School Retool

By Dana Mitroff Silvers
Category: Education & Interpretation
This post originally appeared on Design Thinking for Museums and is republished here with permission. Last spring and this winter, I’ve had the opportunity to work as a coach for a …

Subscribe to Field Notes!

Packed with stories and insights for museum people, Field Notes is delivered to your inbox every Monday. Once you've completed the form below, confirm your subscription in the email sent to you.

If you are a current AAM member, please sign-up using the email address associated with your account.

Are you a museum professional?

Are you a current AAM member?

Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription, and please add communications@aam-us.org to your safe sender list.