With funding from the Institute for Museum and Library Services, the Children's Museum and the New York Hall of Science engaged in a research initiative to determine how to best support family engagement in making as a learning process. Through this work, the research-practice teams at each museum have empirically identified the kinds of learning that we value with respect to making. Generally, we call this work, our Principles of Practice. At Children's Museum of Pittsburgh, this has developed into a framework, the Learning Practices of Making, as well as an ongoing approach to reflective practice.

These Learning Practices also guide how the Museum designs MAKESHOP programming and professional development experiences.