Attend a Smithsonian Education Conference – via computer
The Smithsonian Institution will soon put the expertise of its esteemed curators and researchers right at your fingertips. With the launch of the Smithsonian Education Online Conference Series in February, teachers from across the country will have the opportunity to interact with several Smithsonian curators, experienced educators and renowned experts on a specific conference topic. All you need to virtually attend these free, two-day conferences is a computer.
Knowing that teachers are unable to be in Washington, D.C., for in-person events, the Smithsonian decided to make this unique resource available online for free. And unlike many standard professional conferences, the interactive online format allows participants to speak directly with experts about their knowledge and with museum curators about the thought processes behind exhibits.
“This doesn’t happen with your typical conference,” says Stevie Engelke, Director of Programs at the Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum Studies. “It’s a behind-the-scenes look at what we do here at the Smithsonian. Calling it a seminar is really a misnomer.”
The Smithsonian Education Online Conference Series is specifically designed to enhance classroom teaching. Each conference focuses on a single topic but incorporates the vast resources of the Smithsonian and the interdisciplinary perspectives of various experts on the topic. To help participants incorporate the theme into their own teaching, each conference speaker will immediately be followed by a workshop session. In these workshops, a Smithsonian educator or curator will lead a discussion about how to apply the speaker’s ideas into classroom lessons.
Even after the conference, the Smithsonian will continue to help teachers integrate the topic into their teaching. For teachers whose busy schedules will not allow them to participate in the conference in real-time, each conference session will be recorded, archived online and accessible at any time. All registered participants will also have access to the Smithsonian’s virtual exhibit halls, which will feature downloadable lesson plans, resources from Smithsonian museums and an online community for the exchange of ideas.
In keeping with the Smithsonian’s yearlong celebration of Abraham Lincoln’s 200th birthday, the first Smithsonian Online Education Conference will examine the 16th president’s life and times through history, science and art. To register for the conference, which is scheduled for February 4-5, 2009, go to smithsonianeducation.org. Keep in mind that you must register to participate in the conference even if you plan to only access the archived series.