Journal #2 Museums in the Classroom

Reissman, R.. (2009). Museums in the Classroom. Learning and Leading with Technology, 38. Retrieved February 23, 2009 from: http:www.learning and leading-digital.com/learning-leading/200902

This article discusses some of the ways that museums' online sites can be useful to teachers. It has a great web site that lists hundreds of museum. This is a great tool for teachers. Many schools have had to cut back on field trips with budget cuts and growing strains on the PTA purse strings. So, what's the next best thing to visiting a museum? Going virtually! In addition, there is a site that lists great ideas for teachers who are unfamiliar with how to utilize museum sites. Museum exhibits are such a useful tool for students to tour so it is really wonderful that so many museums have such comprehensive websites. There is a museum out there for pretty much subject and genre so these sites can be utilized by a wide range of teachers. I absolutely loved the idea of turning the classroom into a museum exhibit. The students would enjoy this tremendously. It would be a great add on to a visit to a museum in Balboa Park.

What is one way that a teacher could utilize these sites?
Teachers could allow the students to search the sites for an exhibit related to a topic of their choice. Once they find the exhibit, they could write a newspaper article or even make a magazine describing the event. For students who are more science oriented, they could pick a natural history museum or the air and space museum. Other students might pick art exhibits or literature exhibits. The vast amount of options lets students pick something that they find interesting. Depending upon the english curiculum that a teacher was trying to teach, he or she could then gear the assignment to that.

Why would teacher use a virtual museum if there are real museums nearby?
Virtual museums offer a couple of advantages that the real museums do not. First, of course is the cost of visitng. Nothing! secondly, teachers can find exhibits from all over the world that directly relate to the topic of choice.