Integration of Cultural Enrichment Opportunities in the Psychology Classroom The Smithsonian Museum Experience

1. Integration of Cultural Enrichment Opportunities in the Psychology Classroom The Smithsonian Museum Experience Renee Galbavy, PhD Montgomery College

2. The Smithsonian Faculty Fellowship • What is it? • How does it work? • 2009 Theme: Social Justice (expanded to include cultural relativity) • Apply classroom-based psychological principles to real-world settings.

3. Cultural Psychology Course • Description: Study of psychological principles, theory, and research through exploration of cultural differences and similarities, both within and across cultures. Topics may include the interplay between culture and developmental processes, cognition, emotion, communication, gender, personality development, psychopathology, and social behavior.

4. Relevant Course Objectives The student will be able to: • define, identify, and discuss key terms relating to culture and psychology. • describe and discuss different theoretical perspectives relating to cultural psychology. • discuss and analyze cultural differences and similarities, both within and across cultures. • recognize and appreciate cultural diversity and how culture influences behavior. • apply the knowledge gained to real life situations. • discuss the relationship between their own cultural backgrounds and cultural perspectives and their behavior and mental life.

5. Assignment Assignment included trip to an approved Smithsonian Museum and submission of a journal assignment about the visit. • Anacostia Community Museum • National Museum of the American Indian • National Portrait Gallery • National Museum of American History, Behring Center • National Museum of African Art • Smithsonian American Art Museum and its Renwick Gallery • National Museum of Natural History

6. Assignment Continued… The journal assignment focused on the cultural experiences of the trip, cultural relativity, and social justice. • Issued to Student: Smithsonian Museum Visit: Issues for Reflection Cultural Psychology, Cultural Relativity, and Social Justice

7. Assignment Questions General Information: • What museum did you visit? Why did you choose this museum? • What did you hope to accomplish? • What were your ideas about the museum before you entered? In what ways did those preconceived notions change? • What did you like most about the exhibits? What would you have changed if you could?

8. Assignment Questions Cont… Cultural Psychology and Cultural Relativity: • How did your knowledge and background of cultural psychology change the lens in which you viewed the exhibits? • What text book readings, handouts, or additional literature was helpful for viewing and understanding the exhibits? • Were the exhibits culturally relative? • Did the exhibits do a good job in representing the peoples and cultures of focus? • How could the exhibitions been improved in this regard? • What would have made it more culturally relevant for you?

9. Assignment Questions Cont… Social Justice: • Keeping in mind the below definition of social justice, do you feel the exhibitions represented the people and cultures in a just and fair manner? Why or why not? • Of those exhibits examining people or groups that have previously been excluded from social justice (e.g., women, persons of color, the poor, immigrants, workers, gay men and lesbians, the American Indians, etc…), do they fairly represent their struggle for equality and justice? Why or why not? • What would you have done differently to make the exhibit more powerful and more representative of the relevant individuals and cultures?

10. Navigating The Smithsonian Museums • Getting students ready • Picking exhibitions • Contacting experts • Tours (example: NMAI vs. NPG) • Running your own tour