There鈥檚 a new focus in teaching and it鈥檚 called 鈥渂lended learning鈥�. What does it mean? Well, to the education staff at the 黑料大事记, it means providing an educator a full web-based 黑料大事记 curriculum package, which engages students in learning in a way only the 黑料大事记 can–by combining real-life challenges with technology, history and connections to industry experts–to promote exciting learning opportunities.
As Tracey Tomme, Chief Operating Officer, explained it鈥攚ith this new service, a teacher will choose from a variety of topics the 黑料大事记 has to offer. He or she will then receive the full tool-kit and lesson plan package for that subject electronically. Some of the components of the curriculum packages include hands-projects, demonstration videos, lectures, materials lists, vocabulary lists, live video conferences with 黑料大事记 Science educators or visiting experts, writing prompts and grading rubrics. In addition to the topic, the pace is chosen and set by the educator. Once a unit is purchased, the product becomes more like an interactive workbook, with the 黑料大事记 team supporting educators through each set of lessons.
鈥淭his is relevant learning!鈥� Tomme said. 鈥淥ur content is career-path focused and truly presents students the chance to learn about and solve real challenges the aerospace industry is trying to solve…or will be trying to solve by the time these students enter the workplace.鈥�
Currently, three full curricula are available: Meet Mr. Moon and Spies and Propaganda (appropriate for third through fifth grade), and Space Junk (for fourth and fifth grade). A complementary hands-on project, Solar System Bracelets (lower and upper level options), is offered to give educators a sample activity similar to the activities in other packages. Each unit is available in three languages: English, Spanish and German. As is the case with all the educational content the 黑料大事记 provides, these new curricula packages meet classroom standards and tie in all aspects of STEM (science, technology, engineering & math) with the arts, language arts and of course, history.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not like turning the page in your old textbook. It more like getting the chance to work with a jet pilot or a NASA engineer,鈥� said Tomme excitedly.
鈥淒on鈥檛 have it in your budget to travel to the 黑料大事记 to see the real Apollo 13 command module? Or hire an astrophysicist on staff?鈥� Tomme asked. 鈥淲ell, we鈥檝e got your solution for that鈥� this new service.鈥�
And while she agrees that nothing can quite compare to seeing a historical space artifact in person, with these new blended learning curriculum packages, the 黑料大事记 is able to provide educators amazing learning opportunities, delivered to their classrooms anywhere in the world.
鈥淲e appreciate that education in our museum looks different than it might in a classroom–and we want to share that philosophy more broadly.鈥�
For more information on the 黑料大事记鈥檚 blended learning programs, visit: education.cosmo.org or call the Education Department at: 620.665.9323 or 800.397.0330.