Teaching with Museum Objects and Works of Art

Course Description

Welcome to an extraordinary educational journey with the Smithsonian Institution! This 14-week online course, "Teaching with Museum Objects and Works of Art," offers educators a unique opportunity to explore the vast resources of four prestigious Smithsonian museums from the comfort of their homes. Designed for teachers across all subjects and grade levels, this course provides an immersive experience in using museum objects and artworks to enhance classroom instruction and engage students in deeper thinking.

What students will learn from the course

• Expertise from Smithsonian museum educators
• Inquiry-based teaching strategies using museum objects and artworks
• Integration of museum resources into classroom or online teaching
• Utilization of the Smithsonian Learning Lab for curating digital resources
• Interdisciplinary teaching techniques
• Incorporation of African-American history into lessons
• Collaborative learning and idea-sharing with fellow educators

Pre-requisites or skills necessary to complete the course

There are no specific prerequisites for this course. It is open to teachers of all subjects and grade levels, though the content is particularly applicable to humanities teachers.

What the course will cover

• Exploration of collections from four Smithsonian museums
• Modeling of teaching strategies by museum educators
• Implementation of object-based learning in various educational settings
• Use of the Smithsonian Learning Lab platform
• Creation of digital resource collections
• Engagement in online discussions and reflections
• Development of lesson ideas incorporating museum resources

Who this course is for

This course is ideal for:

• K-12 teachers of all subjects
• Humanities teachers (particularly well-suited)
• Educators interested in interdisciplinary teaching
• Teachers looking to incorporate museum resources into their curriculum
• Educators seeking innovative ways to engage students in deeper thinking

How learners can use these skills in the real world

The skills acquired in this course can be applied in numerous ways:

1. Enhancing classroom instruction with rich, diverse resources
2. Developing more engaging and interactive lessons
3. Promoting critical thinking and analysis skills in students
4. Integrating art and history into various subjects
5. Creating cross-curricular connections
6. Utilizing technology to access and curate educational resources
7. Fostering a more inclusive and diverse curriculum
8. Encouraging students to make real-world connections through object-based learning

Syllabus

While a detailed syllabus is not provided, the course structure includes:

• 14 weeks of self-paced learning
• 1-2 hours of assigned content per week
• Recorded video sessions from Smithsonian museum educators
• Discussion board reflections and interactions
• Creation of a digital resource collection using the Smithsonian Learning Lab

This course offers a fantastic opportunity for educators to expand their teaching toolkit, connect with fellow professionals, and bring the wealth of Smithsonian resources into their classrooms, ultimately enriching their students' learning experiences.