Ep: 83 - Built For Play: Child-led Design
With special guests, Jessie Collins & Vanessa Eastmure from the London Children’s Museum
Welcome to Leading Inspired Learning: A Strive Podcast! In this episode, Ally, Strive Manager, hosts Jessie Collins and Vanessa Eastmure from the London Children's Museum to reflect on what it means to create a museum built for children, by children. They share how children and their caregivers were consulted throughout the museum design process and how children’s feedback continues to shape exhibits, programs, and learning experiences today. Listen, learn, reflect, enjoy!
Guest Bio
Jessie Collins (left) serves as the London Children's Museum's Director of Education and teacher for the Thames Valley District School Board. Receiving her Bachelor of Education from Western University’s Althouse College in 2011, Jessie has focused her career on community-based education. Developing the museum's Education department over the last 15 years, Jessie takes joy in bringing authentic, inquiry-based learning to children of diverse interests and experiences. With a background in biology, Jessie works to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills in all her students.
Vanessa Eastmure (right) is the Director of Exhibits and Visitor Experience at the London Children’s Museum, where she has worked for more than a decade, and holds a Master’s degree in Library and Information Science. She leads the design, development, and care of the museum’s exhibits and collection of more than 12,000 artifacts. Working closely with designers, fabricators, and children from the local community, Vanessa played a key role in the realization of the new London Children’s Museum. She now shares this work through professional development sessions and seminars focused on child-led design practice.