EdLab

UNC meets DC

The new year has just begun and EdLab is already starting the Spring with a bang! January 3rd we had a full day workshop with 40 Teacher Fellows from UNC Asheville. This group is visiting DC for the week to explore the different school systems and museum offerings in the area. For the workshop, we had half of the group explored literacy in the 21st century, while the others delved into citizenry. 

Jeff giving the Teaching Fellows an orientation to the Smithsonian museums at the Castle.

The student teachers represent a variety of grade levels and subject areas, but they were able to work together to make thoughtful connections between Smithsonian objects and content, real world issues and events, and their own lives.

The Teaching Fellows hard at work solving their missions.

At the end of the day, we were presented with a polleverywhere poll the participants had created that asked "What was your favorite part of the Smithsonian Institution EdLab today?". Here are some great answers:

Thank you for all the ideas and resources. This session has been inspiring and informative. As well as encouraging to know the wealth of resources available to us to reach out and engage our students. Thank you!

This was an AMAZING experience. I love the philosophy of EdLab.

I really enjoyed making connection with artifacts and current events and themes that effect our daily life.

My favorite part of this workshop was discovering all of the possibilities teachers have to use technology in their classroom.

I love the inspiration to use technology as a way to make a positive difference in the world :)

Education Innovators Forum

After a semester of hard work, the Education Innovators were able to showcase the educational new media practices they developed and tested. Over 60 people from across the Smithsonian and the different museum graduate programs attended. Instead of having each Innovator present one at a time at the podium, we transformed the museum atrium into an idea fair, where people could move between the different Innovators' tables and engage in conversation about their practices. 

Innovator Mara speaks with staff from the Vietnam Memorial about her practice to get museums engaging with youth through local blogs.

To kick off the night, Lucy spoke on behalf of all the Innovators. She reflected on her experiences in the program: from the highs of seeing firsthand the power of Facebook, to the lows of having a plan fall apart. She said though, that failure was an important lesson to learn as no real innovation could happen without it. Last, she closed by saying that her one wish is that the ideas and practices created and tested by the Education Innovators would be adapted and incorporated into museum practice. 

We at the EdLab also want Lucy's wish to come true. In the next month, will be developing a space on the website for sharing the practices, so hopefully others can gain from the work the Innovators have done. I want to thank the Education Innovators, Allison, Ariel, Audrey, Bren, Gwen, Hannah, Lucy, Madalyn, Mara, and Serene, for trying something new and creating something amazing. Your passion and innovative thinking will pave the way for the future of museums.

EdLab's Fall 2011 Education Innovators.

Lastly, I'd like to welcome our spring Education Innovators group to the family! Get the creative juices flowing for January!