Tuesday, September 26, 2006
USI teacher education students cMoe opportunities for learning
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USI teacher education students have helped develop workshops to enrich learning at the new Koch Family Children’s Museum of Evansville (cMoe). The workshops supporting the exhibits will be used with field trip groups. Vella Goebel, assistant professor of education, said, “A number of the students were so enthralled with the opportunities at the museum that they volunteered to help with the grand opening and other activities.” Teacher education faculty and pre-service teachers are continuing their long-time relationship with the museum, which was known as Hands On Discovery when it was located in Washington Square Mall. The new cMoe opens September 29 in the former Central Library building in downtown Evansville. The historic building was renovated to house the museum. Roto Studio, an internationally-recognized museum design and engineering firm based in Columbus, Ohio, created cMoe’s interactive exhibits: Work Smart, Live Big, Speak Loud, Quack Factory, and Freedom Gallery. Dr. Michael Slavkin, associate professor of education and director of graduate studies in education, has served on the museum board for four years. He is board vice president for education and exhibits. Three years ago the board began redeveloping the museum, looking at its mission and the role it could play as an educational resource in the community. Slavkin said focus groups that included children played a big part in the development of cMoe. In particular, children’s ideas for a climbing structure and a health area are reflected in the facility’s new exhibits. “The museum really does meet the demands and needs of the community,” Slavkin said. “We did everything possible to ensure that any hint, characteristic, or idea that community partners brought to us was included.” Goebel’s students in a summer session class on educational assessment visited the museum as it neared completion to see the exhibits and get inspiration for their service-learning assignment. Patti Wright, director of education and experience for the museum, said the USI students developed pre-visit and post-visit activities for teachers to use as supplementary materials in addition to the workshop lesson plans. The workshops support Indiana academic standards for the various age groups. Best of all, they are interesting and fun. USI teacher education students also helped the museum continue its mission while it was closed for two years in preparation for the relocation. Slavkin’s students prepared Exhibits-to-Go boxes which teachers could check out and use in their classrooms. The boxes were filled with suggested activities and lesson plans on topics such as community helpers, natural resources, and inventions. December Warren, director of cMoe, said the boxes were highly utilized but have gone into hiding as the staff concentrates on the opening. Exhibits-to-Go may be used again at a later time. Slavkin said USI students benefit from the partnership with the museum because they get to develop curriculum that has meaning and relevance in the community. “We’ve had students during their student teaching assignment who have told us that teachers down the hall were using their Exhibits-to-Go box,” Slavkin said. Warren said, “The participation of the USI faculty and students has certainly contributed to the depth and breadth of experience at the children’s museum. It’s been a win-win situation.” The Department of Teacher Education and the Children’s Museum of Evansville will have a continuing relationship through field experiences and placements. |
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