Interdisciplinary Teaching with Museum Objects from edX

Teachers, don't miss this special opportunity to learn with four Smithsonian museums from home! Register for this 14-week course and join an online community of educators for an immersive exploration of teaching with museum objects and works of art. Museum educators will explore connections among their collections and model teaching strategies that participants can implement with their students, whether online or in the classroom. Participants will discover how to teach with museum resources to engage students in deeper thinking and support content learning across disciplines. They'll learn to use the Smithsonian Learning Lab to curate digital resource collections, and share lesson ideas among a new network of colleagues.

Which Smithsonian Museums Will You Learn From?

Who Should Enroll?

Teachers of all subjects and grades are welcome to register. The program content will be most readily applicable to humanities teachers.

What is Required of Participants?

The course is self-paced, designed to be taken over the course of 14 weeks, with one to two hours of content assigned per week. Participants are expected to view all recorded video sessions and respond to reflection prompts using a discussion board.

Participants will also be expected to create a digital resource collection using the Smithsonian Learning Lab.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Gain expertise from educators from multiple smithsonian museums through recorded video sessions
Reflect and share ideas with a community of educators via discussion forums
Explore inquiry-based strategies for integrating museum objects and works of art into your teaching, whether in the classroom or online

Learn to use the
to curate digital resource collections and share lesson ideas.

Gain expertise from educators from multiple smithsonian museums through recorded video sessions
Reflect and share ideas with a community of educators via discussion forums
Explore inquiry-based strategies for integrating museum objects and works of art into your teaching, whether in the classroom or online
Learn to use the
to curate digital resource collections and share lesson ideas.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Covers tools and strategies relevant to secondary school humanities

Taught by Museum educators from Smithsonian museums

Learners can engage with educators and share lesson ideas

Provides step-by-step guidance on using Smithsonian Learning Lab

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Interdisciplinary Teaching with Museum Objects with these activities:

Read "Gardens: An Essay on the Human Condition" by John Dixon Hunt

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This book provides a deep dive into the historical and cultural significance of gardens, giving you a solid foundation in one of the key themes explored in this course.

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Read one chapter per week
Take notes on what you read
Discuss what you're learning with others

Explore the Smithsonian Learning Lab's tutorials on museum education

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Enhance your knowledge of museum education by working through tutorials from the Smithsonian Learning Lab, a valuable resource for educators.

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Visit the Smithsonian Learning Lab website
Browse the available tutorials
Select a tutorial that aligns with your interests
Complete the steps outlined in the tutorial

Review your understanding of basic historical contexts

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Review what you know about history as it relates to art and culture to better deepen your understanding of the course materials.

Browse courses on Art History

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Read articles and books about art history
Watch documentaries or videos about art history
Take notes on what you learn
Discuss your knowledge with others

Five other activities

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Practice using the Smithsonian Learning Lab to curate digital resource collections

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Become proficient in using the Smithsonian Learning Lab's tools for curating digital resources, a skill that will be valuable in your teaching practice.

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Log into the Smithsonian Learning Lab
Create a new collection
Add resources to your collection
Share your collection with others

Host a study session with classmates

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Connect with other students to review course materials, clarify concepts, and enhance your understanding through collaborative learning.

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Organize a time and place to meet with classmates
Identify topics to focus on
Lead discussions and share insights with peers

Create a presentation on the role of a specific museum in your community

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Use what you're learning about museums to create a presentation that highlights the significance of a local museum, deepening your understanding of their function and impact.

Browse courses on Museum Studies

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Choose a museum to focus on
Research the museum's history, mission, and collection
Identify the museum's role in the community
Create a presentation that communicates your findings

Volunteer at a local museum

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Gain practical experience in a museum setting by volunteering, allowing you to connect theory to practice and deepen your understanding of museum operations.

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Identify a local museum that aligns with your interests
Inquire about volunteer opportunities
Attend training and orientation sessions
Fulfill volunteer responsibilities
Reflect on your volunteer experience

Contribute to open-source educational resources on museum education

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Engage with the broader community by contributing to open-source educational resources, sharing your knowledge and supporting the development of high-quality materials for museum education.

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Identify open-source educational platforms focused on museum education
Review existing resources and identify areas for improvement
Create or modify resources to enhance their quality
Share your contributions with the community

Career center

Learners who complete Interdisciplinary Teaching with Museum Objects will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Professor

Professors are responsible for teaching and researching at universities and colleges. This course would be helpful for aspiring professors, as it would provide them with the skills and knowledge necessary to work with museum objects and works of art. The course would also help professors to develop the skills necessary to teach others about the importance of museum collections.

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Art historian

Art historians are responsible for studying and interpreting works of art. This course would be helpful for aspiring art historians, as it would provide them with the skills and knowledge necessary to work with museum objects and works of art. The course would also help art historians to develop the skills necessary to teach others about the history and significance of works of art.

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Art conservator

Art conservators are responsible for preserving and restoring works of art. This course would be helpful for aspiring art conservators, as it would provide them with the skills and knowledge necessary to work with museum objects and works of art. The course would also help art conservators to develop the skills necessary to teach others about the importance of preserving works of art.

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Graphic designer

Graphic designers are responsible for creating visual communication. This course would be helpful for aspiring graphic designers, as it would provide them with the skills and knowledge necessary to work with museum objects and works of art. The course would also help graphic designers to develop the skills necessary to teach others about the importance of museum collections.

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Teacher

Teachers are responsible for teaching students at schools and other educational institutions. This course would be helpful for aspiring teachers, as it would provide them with the skills and knowledge necessary to work with museum objects and works of art. The course would also help teachers to develop the skills necessary to teach others about the importance of museum collections.

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Web Designer

Web designers are responsible for designing and developing websites. This course would be helpful for aspiring web designers, as it would provide them with the skills and knowledge necessary to work with museum objects and works of art. The course would also help web designers to develop the skills necessary to teach others about the importance of museum collections.

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Photographer

Photographers are responsible for taking pictures of people, places, and things. This course would be helpful for aspiring photographers, as it would provide them with the skills and knowledge necessary to work with museum objects and works of art. The course would also help photographers to develop the skills necessary to teach others about the importance of museum collections.

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Writer

Writers are responsible for writing articles, books, and other works of literature. This course would be helpful for aspiring writers, as it would provide them with the skills and knowledge necessary to work with museum objects and works of art. The course would also help writers to develop the skills necessary to teach others about the importance of museum collections.

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Archivist

Archivists are responsible for managing and preserving historical records. This course would be helpful for aspiring archivists, as it would provide them with the skills and knowledge necessary to work with museum objects and works of art. The course would also help archivists to develop the skills necessary to teach others about the importance of preserving historical records.

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Journalist

Journalists are responsible for writing and reporting news stories. This course would be helpful for aspiring journalists, as it would provide them with the skills and knowledge necessary to work with museum objects and works of art. The course would also help journalists to develop the skills necessary to teach others about the importance of museum collections.

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Curator

Curators are responsible for managing and interpreting museum collections. This course would be helpful for aspiring curators, as it would provide them with the skills and knowledge necessary to work with museum objects and works of art. The course would also help curators to develop the skills necessary to teach others about the importance of museum collections.

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Museum Educator

Museum educators are responsible for teaching visitors about museum collections. This course would be helpful for aspiring museum educators, as it would provide them with the skills and knowledge necessary to work with museum objects and works of art. The course would also help museum educators to develop the skills necessary to teach others about the importance of museum collections.

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Exhibition Designer

Exhibition designers are responsible for designing and installing museum exhibitions. This course would be helpful for aspiring exhibition designers, as it would provide them with the skills and knowledge necessary to work with museum objects and works of art. The course would also help exhibition designers to develop the skills necessary to teach others about the importance of museum exhibitions.

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Museum Technician

Museum technicians are responsible for installing and maintaining museum exhibits. This course would be helpful for aspiring museum technicians, as it would provide them with the skills and knowledge necessary to work with museum objects and works of art. The course would also help museum technicians to develop the skills necessary to teach others about the importance of museum collections.

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Broadcaster

Broadcasters are responsible for presenting news and information to the public. This course would be helpful for aspiring broadcasters, as it would provide them with the skills and knowledge necessary to work with museum objects and works of art. The course would also help broadcasters to develop the skills necessary to teach others about the importance of museum collections.

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Interdisciplinary Teaching with Museum Objects

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