Families, educators, and students alike are encouraged to explore SmithsonianEducation.org, a website dedicated to learning and knowledge. For those who have to do research, are searching for cyberschooling or homeschooling resources, or simply have an interest in historical or scientific facts, then this website is highly recommended.
Connected to the renowned Smithsonian Museum, SmithsonianEducation.org is a treasure trove of information on a number of subjects. The contents on the website—just like the exhibitions inside the museum—are enough to fill several years of curriculum. For anyone who lives near the museum, having the option to experience it in person is clearly a great educational benefit. Yet few people live in close enough proximity to take frequent trips. Luckily, the Internet provides the ability to explore far-off locations, including the Smithsonian.
According to SmithsonianEducation.org:
“The mission of the Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum Studies is to increase the Smithsonian Institution’s impact as a national educational organization. The Center provides leadership in education at the Smithsonian through hosting www.SmithsonianEducation.org, the gateway to the institution’s educational resources and programs, publishing ‘Smithsonian in Your Classroom,’ a journal for elementary and middle school educators, offering research opportunities and resources to the museum community, and conducting professional development programs for educators at all levels. The Center has created a long-term alliance with state education officials that has become the basis for several collaborative teacher training and resource development projects in a wide range of subjects. The Center also manages pan-institutional functions such as internships, heritage month celebrations, school tour programming, and the collection and the collection and analysis of data on Smithsonian education programs.”
The website has an excellent directory (known as the “site map”) that offers visitors the chance to explore a wide range of subjects pertaining to art, culture, science and history. There are detailed descriptions of exhibitions and information about the depicted items. In essence, the website is like visiting the museum from anywhere at any time one chooses. To view the “Site Map” click here: http://smithsonianeducation.org/tools/sitemap.html
The Internet is making it easier than ever for people to connect to places that are located far away from them. Museums are institutions of learning and information and they have made great strides in presenting their exhibitions online to share with a worldwide audience. As the capabilities and benefits of the Internet continue to increase it is wise to assume that museums will find more ways to tap the virtual realm to share their offerings with anyone who is interested—no matter where they hail from. SmithsonianEducation.org is an excellent example of this and it is a highly recommended “online learning” resource due to its impressive virtual catalogue of information.
For more information visit: http://smithsonianeducation.org/
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