This powerpoint is about the Mobile Learning Institute at the Smithsonian National Postal Museum for the Museum Mobile Conference March 2011.

1. Smithsonian Mobile Learning How do you address new media in formal and informal learning environments?

2. The Mobile Learning Institute at the National Postal Museum Teacher Leaders Program

4. Are these skills being taught in the classroom?

6. What are 21st Century Skills?

7. 21st Century Skill: Communication

8. 21st Century Skill: Collaboration

9. 21st Century Skill: Creativity

10. 21st Century Skill: Critical Thinking

11. What do these skills look like in a museum? Students learning from objects Using digital museum collections to research questions Planning and shooting videos http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0slTrEph9DU Click the link to watch the video

12. To change learning, we need to change our teaching philosophy.

13. A Change in Philosophy:Shifting Teaching Styles

14. What is a Teacher Leader? “I believe a teacher leader is a learner and a risk taker. They must be open to new ideas and be willing to share with their colleagues. A teacher leader needs to be a collaborator and lead by example. I think it is important for a teacher leader to always search for ‘new and improved’ ways to communicate the curriculum to their faculty and their students.” - Jill, NPM Teacher Leader 2010-2011

15. Goal of Teacher Leaders Program To make connections between classroom content, museum collections, and new media tools: Increase new media teaching skills Change attitudes about learning in and from museums Inspire active learning

16. Object-based Museum Learning Museum Collection

17. New Media Social Network New Media

18. New Media New Media Mobile Devices

19. We Make Teachers the Students: Mobile Journalism Activity Mission: Choose an object in the collection and link it to a current controversial topic. What are your research questions? How will you gather data? Collect public opinion about your topic in Union Station. Record observations through twitter, gather public opinion with text polling, and record your research with videos.

20. Mobile Journalism

21. Museum Partners …help us think outside the box Teachers Unique Products National Postal Museum Pearson Foundation

22. Workshop Products Teacher-generated Lesson Plans Student-generated products from Lesson Plans

23. Future Directions based on Lessons Learned

24. Challenges: Schools have new media restrictions Schools lack current technology Teachers are busy; full school-year-long project is too much! Teachers are most comfortable with their own technology platform Teachers are not used to teaching with objects or new media Teachers are not used to letting their students be experts in the classroom User-generated content is controversial for schools and museums Teachers and parents concerned with privacy

25. Benefits: School Administrators are looking for positive new media products Teachers have changed their opinion about working with new media and objects Teacher-identified classroom connections promote ownership over experience Students love working with new media and being experts Educators love learning from each other Social networks are educational!

26. Planning for Future: Summer 2011 Partnering with different SI museums for interesting collection connections Workshops are based on content and new media themes Teachers use their own technology Large emphasis on problem solving Utilize local experts for unique workshop experience

27. Planning for Future: School Year 2011-2012 Weekend workshops with Experts Track Tinkering workshops open for all Teachers build field trips Student & teacher products incorporated into museum Continued partnership with other SI units Building relationship with SI Affiliates for long distance workshops

28. The Mobile Learning Institute at the National Postal Museum