Facilitator (IS-1702-05)

Smithsonian Institution•Washington, DC

12d•$22 - $29•Onsite

About The Position

This position is located in the Experience Development Team, Education and Experience, Division of Public History, National Museum of American History (NMAH), Smithsonian Institution (SI). The National Museum of American History empowers people to create a just and compassionate future by exploring, preserving, and sharing the complexity of the nation’s past. The primary purpose of this position is to serve as an education facilitator in the museum, supporting operations of an interactive exhibit and supporting children and adults in hands-on activities with inquiry-based facilitation. This position requires work on evenings, weekends, and holidays in accordance with Smithsonian Institution policy.

Requirements

Experience: To qualify for this position, applicants must possess 1-3 years of related experience (described below).
Skill to facilitate pre-designed learning activities based in conversational interpretation, inquiry-based learning, hands-on activities, and play.
Knowledge of group management techniques in order to engage visitors and work with a variety of learning styles and age groups.
Ability to communicate orally with general audiences (up to 30 people) about select topics in history in an informal setting.
Practical knowledge of instructional support techniques sufficient to create instructional materials, organize learning content, or facilitate group activities and hands-on exercises.
Skill to organize schedules and activities, including keeping sessions on schedule and tracking attendance.

Responsibilities

Supports meaningful engagement with history through hands-on activities based on inquiry, creatively inspiring visitors to be engaged with history and practice skills such as collaboration, perseverance, and curiosity.
Ensures a positive visitor experience by greeting visitors and engaging them through conversation, inquiry, and experimentation appropriate to age level and interest.
Works collaboratively with the Daily Experience Manager, Production Coordinators, and other Facilitators to perform routine maintenance of materials and interactives such as stocking supplies, testing functionality of electronics, keeping equipment clean and organized, and reporting problems or deficiencies to the Program Coordinators.
Recommends and makes basic changes to activity materials or signage, suggests topics for new activities related to museum priorities, and incorporates volunteer suggestions.
Develops recommendations to improve visitor experience and learning experiences, such as prototyping new American Experiment content, testing new signage, helping develop classroom versions of some activities, and assessing the efficacy of these efforts.