Leach, Denice Blair

Co-manager, MSU Museum Education Team
Assistant Professor, Department of Teacher Education

Research Interests/Experience

Dr. Leach's research focuses on examining how learning happens in informal, out-of-classroom settings like museums and historic sites, to better understand impacts and improve methods. She develops educational programs for the museum's pre-K-12, university, and lifelong learning audiences. Her work includes emphases on digital and online learning.

In her teaching, Dr. Leach strives to blend content, pedagogical approaches, and learning tools to create a classroom atmosphere in which students are actively engaged, not only in constructing knowledge, but also in developing themselves as professionals who learn and teach creatively and critically. She will teach courses in informal education, learning, and evaluation.

Selected Publications

• Leach, D. B. (2011). Children’s Recollections of a Historical House Visit: Recall of Experiences Using Cognitive Tools. Visitor Studies, 14(1), 34-47.
• Leach, D. B. (2007). Dynamic museum place: Exploring the multi-dimensional museum environment. Journal of Museum Education, 32(3), 197-207.
• Leach, D. B., Morrissey, K., & Alvarado, G. (2007). Taking videoconferencing to the next level: Creating a model for museum virtual field trips. In D. Newman, P. Barbanell, J. Falco, & S. Silverman (Eds.), Videoconferencing technology in K-12 instruction: Best practices and trends (pp. 20-34). Hershey: PA: IGI.

Selected Exhibitions

• "Michigan Indian Sovereignty and Treaties" (co-curator with Adriana Greci-Green, Nokomis Learning Center, Okemos, MI 2006)
• "Eaton County Hall of History" (co-curator with Christa Christensen, Courthouse Square Association, Charlotte, MI, 2004)

Degrees

Ph.D., Educational Psychology & Educational Technology
M.A., American Studies

Professional website