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Motal Articles

MOTAL ARTICLES

The Museum of Teaching and Learning is pleased to provide you a list with links to the posts we have sent out in the past year. It is our mission to enlighten, educate, inspire, and tell stories for all ages. All you have to do is click on the titles below. Pour yourself a cup of coffee or favorite drink, relax and enjoy.
We will be adding articles weekly so please check back often to read some more.

We need your help to share stories in new places and reach more students, teachers, and community members of all ages in 2023.
You can make a difference today! Take our survey!
CLICK HERE Don't forget to write the Article Name on the survey


RECENT ARTICLES

MORE MOTAL ARTICLES

When MOTL became MOTAL: MOTAL Turns Twenty

9/6/2024

 
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Dear Readers,

You are all invited to come help MOTAL celebrate its twentieth anniversary at Fullerton’s Hunt Library on September 29th. The fun will begin at 4:30. Bring TWENTIES ($$$). Now let us tell you how a charitable nonprofit that was incorporated in 2009 can turn twenty. How could that be?

Well, actually, MOTAL’s first incarnation as a nonprofit occurred in 2004. That year, MOTAL was named as a project of the California State University, Long Beach Foundation. Dr. Greta Nagel was named as the Project Director and donations to the museum’s early projects were sent through the foundation.

However, thoughts about a museum about education had begun to percolate in Greta Nagel’s mind a few years earlier, in 2002, while she was teaching about the history and philosophy of education at CSULB. There was so much that people—even experienced educators—did not know! And too many times, important decisions would be made without the help of historical and cultural frameworks. She was enchanted by the stories and thought that she should write a book about critical topics in education. It could be framed by the metaphor of a museum called the Museum of Teaching and Learning. It would be called MOTL for short.

The museum’s advisory committee agreed that, with nonprofit status, creating a website would be a good idea. But, as they soon learned, the hoped-for website domain MOTL was already taken. The first website designer suggested that inserting the letter A would help, and although some thought a lower-case letter O would be just like MoMA, the all-caps acronym stuck. M-O-T-A-L (rhymes with TOTAL).

Greta received “Scholarly and Creative” award funding for her conception of the museum and was granted a sabbatical leave to continue that study. She conducted observational research and gathered ideas within a wide variety of museums throughout the nation. Nagel conducted research and studies of feasibility, supported by seed funds from CSULB and Edison International, along with early contributions from over one hundred individuals.
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Above: Cutout image of Horace Mann.
As part of the project, supportive and talented people were invited to participate in four different “Dream Teams” that convened in four cities. Additional groups of individuals participated in surveys and interviews, including groups in California and crowds who visited the MOTAL booth at the AARP convention in Las Vegas. As a result, Nagel began drafting a book-length manuscript to provide a vision of significant topics to be explored in an interactive museum.

At one point, though, CSULB colleagues encouraged Greta to put the book project aside. They said, “Why not start a REAL museum?” And so, long story short, with the help of those colleagues and staff members at the university, the first two MOTAL exhibits—about Horace Mann in 2006 and Maria Montessori in 2007— were conceived and created. Then, as time went by, hopes of attracting visitors beyond the university campus grew, The Museum of Teaching and Learning (MOTAL) applied to become an independent, charitable nonprofit. The official 501(c)(3) letter of incorporation bears the date: 2009. Perhaps, you might think, that means another twentieth anniversary could take place in 2029. But more than likely a 25th anniversary gala will take place.  

Now, in 2024, the museum is devoted to its mission of educating people about education by sharing exhibitions, artifacts, stories and articles, events, and podcasts. All reveal trustworthy information related to teaching and learning. MOTAL has grown, slowly but surely.

We know that:

Developing exhibits from start to finish is time-consuming.
Changing course during the pandemic meant adopting new tactics.
Being granted state funding escalated financial status and . . . obligations.

We continue to look forward knowing that exhibits are known for solid scholarship, creative approaches, and sound informal and interactive learning techniques. In addition, since 2004, MOTAL has engaged students as college interns and docents, offering hands-on learning opportunities and enjoying their helpful services and youthful outlooks.

Thanks for reading,
Greta


​
P.S. Stay tuned. Better yet, decide to join our team. Opportunities to help abound. If you like to do something, there is a good chance you can do it for MOTAL.
I want to celebrate MOTAL's 20th anniversary.
RSVP today by clicking here!
I can't celebrate with you this time, but I would love to donate.
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    Funded Project Announcement Video:

    ​Your Baby's Amazing Brain
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    The high-tech mobile museum
    Your Baby's Amazing Brain
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    CLICK HERE FOR NEXT VENUE
    MOTAL Creates Traveling
    Exhibitions

    that are leased by institutions
    such as

    museums, libraries, schools,
    and universities.
    If you would like more
    information
    Email HERE
    A Class Action:
    The Grassroots Struggle
    for School Desegregation in California

    Traveling Exhibition
    CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE!
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    Hunt Branch Library Grand Reopening
    Featuring A Class Action
    Exhibition

    ​NOW on Display Until October 13, 2024
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    The Hunt Library address is:
    201 S. Basque Avenue, Fullerton, CA 92833
    which is north of Valencia Avenue,
    just around the corner from the Fullerton School District office.

    You Can Visit A Class Action Exhibition
    Tuesdays, Wednesdays, & Thursdays
    10AM - 4:00PM
    Every Third Saturday
    9:00AM - 3:00PM

    The exhibition tells the story of the influential court case, Mendez et al. v Westminster School District et al. Our award-winning exhibition’s full title is A Class Action: The Grassroots Struggle for School Desegregation in California. This will be its seventeenth venue.​

    We Also Have a Hanging Version!

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    Two Roads, One Journey:
    Education in China and the U.S
    Traveling Exhibition
     
    CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE!
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    Here is a direct Link to our
    MOTAL YouTube Channel:
    MOTAL - The Museum of Teaching and Learning
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    While you are there, please click
    on the SUBCRIBE button which is FREE!

    Like, Follow, and Subscribe!

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Copyright © 2011– Museum of Teaching and Learning. 
​All rights reserved. Disclosures.
247 E Amerige Avenue Fullerton, CA 92832​, USA

  • HOME
  • What We Do
    • Artifacts >
      • Artifact of the Month
      • Artifact Group and Index
    • Exhibitions >
      • Your Baby's Amazing Brain
      • A Class Action >
        • Exhibition Layout
        • Manuscript and Photographs
        • Artifacts
        • Recordings and Documentary
        • Docent Support
        • Classroom Materials
        • Suggested Events
        • Marketing Materials
        • Venues
        • What People Are Saying
        • Acknowledgements
      • Memories of Mexican Schools Listening Station
      • Two Roads, One Journey >
        • Objectives
        • Our Audience
        • The Experience
        • Exhibition Floor Plan
        • Venues
        • Creative Team
      • Past Exhibitions
    • Podcasts
    • Programs >
      • Artifact Collection
      • Artifact Group and Index
      • Learn
      • Bookshop
      • Resources
  • About Us
    • About MOTAL
    • Our History
    • Board Members
    • Behind the Scenes
    • Events
  • Contact
  • MOTAL Articles