Technology Training for Museum Development and Membership Professionals?

A recent post over at the Archives and Museum Informatics site regarding the "Museum Studies Programs: That Was Then, This Is Now" session at last week's MCN conference got me thinking about the way technology is taught in Museum Studies programs and whom those tech classes are really directed at? I know that technology (databases, information management, digital imaging, etc.) are necessary skills for museum collection managers/registrars and education staff, but increasingly the use of Internet technologies, including but not limited to social media, is very pertinent to the work of development and membership officers as well. Enough time has passed and enough has changed in the world since I was a Museum Studies graduate student that I honestly don't know if MS technology classes are addressing the needs of future fundraisers or not. Is social media being taught as a form of fundraising? Is e-philanthropy being discussed? Are the relative merits of Facebook as a fundraiser or MySpace for membership activities being discussed? Does anyone know?

The Theory-Practice Divide

A few months ago, Nina Simon of the Museum 2.0 blog posted her concerns about the legions of museum studies graduates currently flooding the museum job market. The resulting comments were impassioned--both in favor of the training provided by advanced degrees and against. Now it appears that a similar topic is being discussed in the broader realm of nonprofits. With more than 250 programs nationwide specializing in some form of nonprofit management, nonprofit marketer and blogger Jeff Brooks is worried that "the theory-rich academic approach to life" will not adequately prepare those entering the market for reality. The discussion in the comments section of his post are definitely worth a look.