Guided journal entries are an important part of a museum internship experience. Weekly journal assignments can help you keep an open dialog with your intern so you can assess their progress, interest level and comprehension of information.

Here are some suggestions for guided journal entries:

Describe your expectations of the museum before you began your internship. How does it differ from other places you have worked or other museums you have visited?

List and describe three personal goals you have going into this internship experience. What do you hope to get out of the internship? Why are these goals important?

What are your favorite areas of history? How can you incorporate those interests into your internship?

What does a general organizational outline of the museum look like from your perspective? Where does your department fit into the whole?

What is the Museum’s Mission Statement? How is it being met?

Provide a job description for your supervisor. What does he or she do? How long has he or she been working at the Museum? What did he or she do before working here?

What are the major projects for which you are responsible? What is your general reaction to these projects? Do you feel qualified to do them?

What skills have you learned at your internship that have helped you complete your projects?

What is your favorite part about your museum internship?

What have you learned in your college coursework that has been helpful in your internship at the museum?

Are there other jobs at the Museum that you find interesting? What do you find interesting about them?

How does your internship compare with your expectations prior to arriving at the museum? What experiences have been better than you expected? What experiences have been worse than you expected?

Describe your overall experience at the museum. How has your internship shaped your future career goals?

Will you be pursuing a job in the museum field? Why or why not?