Entering a new year, we reflect on the changes that we have seen in the past to predict the future that is before us. There is one primary purpose for this activity. That is to prepare ourselves to be the most effective in an ever evolving world.
Museum of International Cultures, Dallas, Texas
As a museum with a mission of educating others on diverse cultures, we understand how quickly social and cultural changes can occur. An example is the change occurring in our educational system in the United States. We are entering a new era in education.
This new era is spurring conversation and, consequently, partnerships. The Partnership for 21st Century Skills professes that the key for success in the United States educational system is to fuse the traditional 3Rs with the 4Cs.
- Critical thinking and problem solving,
- Communication,
- Collaboration, and
- Creativity and innovation.
As the Center for the Future of Museums in their blog states: “…museums are pre-adapted to be major players in the next era of education.” The Center depict the new era of education to be:
- Lifelong Learning
- Beyond institutions
- Software-mediated
- Teacher as facilitator
Museums provide a means to personally interact with the subject to be learned. This experiential effect can stimulate further creative thinking leading to more questions and more answers. When learning in a museum setting, discovery can also create a desire to share the experience generating further collaboration and communication.
The International Museum of Cultures offers the following Educational Tools for this new era of education. These tools are specifically designed to address the new means of learning while also assisted the smaller school budgets of the new year.
Electronic Field Trip
The Electronic Field Trip is entirely online and is designed as an interactive learning tool.
- A series of videos delivered over the Web that provide an entertaining tour of different sections of the museum. The tour focuses on the Peoples of Africa, South America, Papua New Guinea, Asia, and Mexico
- Curricula covering TEKS for K-12 science, social studies, English language arts, and math.
Discovery Boxes
Discovery Boxes allow students to experience cultures around the world in a unique and interactive way. Discovery boxes come in 12 different themes and include a variety of genuine artifacts from our museum’s collection. Students will be able to touch and examine the artifacts while completing activities and worksheets that encourage them to think critically about the world around them using Project Based Learning (PBL) methods.
Boxes include:
- a teacher’s guide with detailed object descriptions
- curricula covering TEKS for K-12 science, social studies, English language arts, fine arts, and math
- eye-opening activities that guide your students through understanding the objects
For more information on the educational tools from the International Museum of Cultures, call 972-708-7406.
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