Incorporating K-12 Outreach Into Digitized Collections Programs Workshop

This Wiki supports the Incorporating K-12 Outreach Into Digitized Collections Programs Workshop

Basic Information

Dates: December 5-6 with travel days on December 4th and 7th 2016.

Location: Q?rius, The Coralyn W. Whitney Science Education Center at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (http://qrius.si.edu/) Washington, D.C.

Introduction: K-12 educators and learners are a large and deserving audience for outreach activities associated with scientific projects, and are often incorporated into the statement of Broader Impacts of NSF proposals. Science is increasingly emphasized in K-12 classrooms and compliments current STEM and STEAM educational initiatives, and all successful K-12 programs must link activities to state and national science standards, for example NGSS (Next Generation Science Standards). Understanding and linking to state and national science standards is also crucial to create a relevant and useful resource. These standards provide a framework that empowers teachers to promote greater student initiative and leadership in developing research questions and inquiry and experiential learning based investigations.

Although scientists are interested in working with K-12 educators and learners as part of their educational outreach activities, not many understand how to effectively design, execute, or evaluate a successful K-12 program or how to begin and maintain a working relationship with K-12 educators and administrators. This workshop will provide an opportunity for experts in both collections and education to interact, share knowledge, discuss challenges and issues, and ultimately collaborate on a best practices document that can be shared with the greater collections community.

Workshop Supporting Documents

• Introduction to the Workshop
• Workshop Agenda
• Workshop Logistics Document
• Workshop Announcement

Best Practices Document

Links to the chapters coming soon!