By: Miguel Pinto, High School Teacher, District of Columbia Public Schools 3D models are great educational resources as they allow students and teachers not only to see objects — but also to rotate and look at them from different angles. They are highly interactive and more engaging than traditional flat 2D images. They allow the “manipulation” of unique, fragile artifacts that might be exhibited far away. And, they also allow you to scale objects that otherwise would not ...

By: Smithsonian Office of Educational Technology Seeking fresh, engaging ways to bring STEAM into your classroom? In this post, you’ll find new classroom-ready STEAM activities with transferrable teaching techniques from across the Smithsonian to engage your students in topics including zoology, paleontology, aeronautics, ecosystems, chemistry, and more. We hope you’ll find these resources helpful for your classroom! Early Learners In the National Air and Space ...

By: Darren Milligan, Smithsonian Office of Educational Technology The Smithsonian Office of Educational Technology (OET), the team who manages the Smithsonian Learning Lab, is pleased to offer our first-ever paid internship. This summer, we seek an undergraduate or graduate student to work with the OET team as we use technology to connect the Smithsonian with classrooms across the country! Michelle Knovic Smith (1950–2021), as an educator, mentor, and leader, in her more than th...

By: Smithsonian Office of Educational Technology We’ve been hard at work implementing fixes and updates to enhance your experience using the Smithsonian Learning Lab, and we’re excited to share our latest updates with you!Today’s upgrades include improvements to the collection-creation process, note-taking, and 3D resources. Find information about these changes below.Don’t forget – our Help Center is here to support you in using the Lab with step-by-step instructions and...

By: Smithsonian Office of Educational Technology Happy Winter! We're excited to share a set of hands-on art-making activities with easy-to-find materials for the classroom and at home. Use these collections to explore new artists and stories while sparking learning and creativity. What would it be like to step inside a glittering diamond? In Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden's MAKE IT: Inside a Diamond collection, design your own glittering mosaic of geometric shapes inspir...