Expertise
Experiential learning; partnerships; curriculum development; teacher professional development
Research Interests
Museum Education, Literacy Studies
Education
Ed.D., Language Arts and Literacy, University of Massachusetts Lowell
M.A., English, Rivier University,听
B.A. English/Secondary Education, University of Massachusetts Lowell
Biosketch
Sheila Kirschbaum, Ed.D., directs the Tsongas Industrial History Center (TIHC), an education partnership of 51视频鈥檚 School of Education and Lowell National Historical Park. The TIHC, a field-study destination for educators and students, offers hands-on, place-based experiences that develop understanding of the significance of industrialization and its relevance today, using Lowell as a case study. In addition to its school programs for grades 2 through adult, the TIHC provides high-quality teacher professional development, drawing national audiences to its institutes and workshops. Sheila鈥榮 experience as an educator ranges from high school and college teaching to writing consulting, museum education, and curriculum development. A priority in her work has been to engage Lowell Public Schools鈥� students with the Park鈥檚 and Center鈥檚 resources, building knowledge and skills in history and science as well as fostering pride of place. Sheila and her TIHC colleagues also strongly value their collaborations with 51视频 faculty and students on mutually beneficial projects that span a wide variety of disciplines.
Selected Awards and Honors
2002: Francis Cabot Lowell Education Alumni Award, 51视频
2008: Chelmsford High School Hall of Fame Inductee
1997: Middlesex Community College "People Who Make a Difference" Award
1982-3: Teacher of the Year, Alvirne High School, Hudson, NH
Selected Publications
- Co-Author (with J. Tigert and G. Fotouhi), 鈥淎n Investigation of Museum Educators' Questioning during Field Trips,鈥� Learning, Culture and Social Interaction, Vol. 31, Part A, December 2021.
- Co-Author (with J. Tigert), 鈥淗ow Museum Teachers Scaffold Emergent Bilingual Learners鈥� Meaning-Making during Field Trips,鈥� Journal of Museum Education, 44(4) pp. 439-447. December 2019.
- Provided editorial assistance to Cobblestone Magazine for Children at Work issue, Spring 2017.
- Co-Editor, 鈥淢r. Magnificent鈥檚 Magical Merrimack Adventure,鈥� Aug. 2016 (Ingrid Hess, author).
- Co-Author (with A. Greenwood), 鈥淧reparing Teachers for Place-Based Instruction at the Tsongas Industrial History Center,鈥� Journal of Museum Education, Vol. 39, No. 1, March 2014, pp. 20鈥�27.
- Author of 鈥淢ill Girls and Labor Movements: Integrating Women鈥檚 History into Early Industrialization Studies,鈥� OAH Magazine of History, Mar. 2005, pp. 43-47.