My job: Rediscovering the past

Karen Walters. Photo / Ted Baghurst

Describe what you do.

I lead the MOTAT education team of three educators, a bookings coordinator and myself. I've been here three years. Our education team runs visits for over 26,000 school children per year and we also develop school holiday experience programmes.

I also help develop and coordinate programmes for other visiting organisations and work with other teams within MOTAT, such as the marketing and exhibition teams.

I also manage the Ministry of Education's LEOTC (learning experiences outside the classroom) contract. We also do a mobile MOTAT, taking programmes out to schools. We try and align all our resources to the revised curriculum and we're developing different programmes every day. Community access is really important to MOTAT because we are funded by the community so we have a range of free entry initiatives for people in the greater Auckland area, including low decile schools and parents accompanying school trips.

Our core philosophy is to inspire people to discover their past, so they can compare it to the present and become more informed for the future. Inspiration and interaction is the key. It is a great feeling when people go away feeling excited about what they've learned.

Your history?

I worked in administration roles until I had my three sons. When the oldest started school I became a parent helper, then got a teacher aide job. One of my sons has Aspergers and I became involved in behavioural education groups for children and their families. Once my sons were at school I did a Bachelor of Education and taught for five years. Then I saw a MOTAT educator job advertised, and decided to apply. I have a passion for science and history and my dad used to take us to MOTAT and I loved it. I went into the management role at MOTAT when my manager retired 18 months ago.

What is MOTAT exactly?

As the Museum of Transport and Technology, MOTAT is a working museum, which means it has things in working order that can be handled. You can touch, feel and turn things upside down to check how they work, or talk to our dedicated volunteers about the transport, technology and social history of exhibits.

What training and experience is important with this job?

A degree in education. Museum volunteer work to learn how people use museums. A qualification in museum studies would also be helpful.

Museum studies?

I'm going to begin a postgraduate diploma extramurally through Massey University next year because I want to learn more about how to unlock knowledge and information in a way that is accessible and relevant to others. I also want to learn more about preservation and protection of artefacts.

What skills or qualities do you need?

Teaching skills are a must. A background or passion for history or science certainly helps and you need to be passionate about learning for children and yourself. As a manager, you need to be able to let staff take the lead.

Most enjoyable aspects of the job?

It is brilliant to work with children and teachers in this type of environment. I love how no day is the same. Nothing is scripted; everything is tailored to suit the next group coming through the gate.

I love being part of a museum that emphasises hands on learning; having a son with Aspergers has highlighted the value of that to me.

I have a great team and love leading people and encouraging them to blow the job out of the water with new ideas and approaches.

Challenges?

Finding the balance between protecting something, while also enabling people to access it. Staying up to date with educational theories and people's needs. This involves lots of reading and networking with educational groups, the Ministry of Education and other providers, such as museums and tourist ventures.

Advice to someone wanting to do similar?

You're half way there if you've got a passion for history, science and heritage. Get into a museum volunteer programme to find out whether it is for you and where you'd like to specialise.

Teaching experience is also really helpful because it opens up great opportunities in the educational side of museums.

Where would you like to be in five years?

I want to get a museum studies qualification. I'd also like to do more developing and designing of exhibitions.

Why do you think museums are important?

We need to hold onto our heritage. It is important to know where you come from so you can be informed about where you're going.

I think museums also play a major role in bringing the community together and we are now collecting artefacts from a much wider range of people to reflect the breadth of our community.

Name: Karen Walters
Age: 42
Role: Education Coordinator/manager for MOTAT
Working hours: 40 - 50 hours per week
average salary: $40,000 - $70,000 depending on experience and size of organisation
Quals: Bachelor of Education (Primary Teaching) from Auckland College of Education (now University of Auckland)