<p>This topical collection of people—together in groups with friends or families (mother, father, sister, brother, aunt, uncle, cousin, grandmother, and grandfather); different genders, ages, and ethnicities, and "selfies"—was originally used in a collage art activity (printed out; using paper, glue, and art materials); and as a discussion prompt in an informal learning activity with a group of teens with cognitive disabilities during a summer camp program. Use the visible thinking routine, "See|Think|Wonder" and Conversing with Objects discussion prompt as a starting point for the writing prompt, and the images for inspiration. </p> <p>Tags: decision-making, self-determination, student empowerment, disability, All Access Digital Arts Program, teens in museums, teens, teenagers, after school, out of school learning, informal learning</p>

<p>Get out on a sunny day and enjoy an art sculpture garden with friends...Wander with a purpose. In this teen group quest, teams use close-up photo prompts to find artworks in a sculpture garden, and then use tablet devices to take team photos with the sculptures. This activity was originally used in the Hirshhorn Sculpture Garden in Washington, D.C. with the All Access Digital Arts Program as a photo scavenger hunt. Example PDFs of photo details are provided. To turn the photo hunt into a more formal learning experience, the answer section shows the entire sculpture with information and discussion prompts to elicit questions about teen identity and self-expression.</p> <p>With some prep work, this activity could be adapted to other sculpture gardens settings, or permanent collection galleries in a museum. Make sure to confirm the sculpture locations prior to your groups visit--Even heavy sculptures sometimes get relocated or go out for conservation and cleaning.</p> <p>Tags: decision-making, self-determination, student empowerment, disability, All Access Digital Arts Program, teens in museums, teens, teenagers, after school, out of school learning, informal learning, emotions, socio-emotional</p>

<p>This topical collection of the color blue is part of a color series and was originally used in a collage art activity (printed out; using paper, glue, and art materials) with a group of teens with cognitive disabilities during a summer camp program. I was inspired to create the series after a few of our students mentioned their passionate interest in specific colors, and how they thought in colors.</p> <p>Tags: color series, decision-making, self-determination, student empowerment, disability, All Access Digital Arts Program</p>

<p>What does it mean to be influenced by the world around you? This collection looks at the technical innovations, design influences (Japanese Zen Buddhist, Italian, Bauhaus); location influences (Yosemite, Silicon Valley); and cultural and musical influences (Bob Dylan, Edwin Land) which inspired Steve Jobs to "think different" and create digital products which changed the world.<br></p><p>Today, owning an iPhone is almost ubiquitous--seamlessly integrated into our modern lives. I'm typing on a MacBook Pro as I write this metadata note. But, I'll always remember the feeling of excitement as a kid--my first personal computer, an Apple //c. (1984). I spent hours, upon hours on it, exploring a strange and wonderful new world; and years later, a Macintosh followed, that took me to college. I remember wearing earbuds for the first time, and listening to my personal music collection on my first iPod Gen 4 (2004). Besides being a seminal technology influence in my life, I was inspired to create this collection about Steve Jobs after creating a family day program at the Smithsonian based on the <em><a href="https://www.si.edu/Exhibitions/The-Patents-and-Trademarks-of-Steve-Jobs-Art-and-Technology-that-Changed-the-World-4838" target="_blank">Patents and Trademarks of Steve Job</a></em> traveling exhibition (2012). I hope the story of Jobs and Apple inspires the next generation to think different and change the world through technology.</p> <p>Keywords: inventor, biography, technology, innovation</p>

<p>How do we experience the sense of touch? This collection explores the variety of human and animal touch experiences. From the characteristics of a variety of objects, to a video which examines the touch experience of tortoises and pandas... we all experience touch differently. Background information from the website Neuroscience for Kids provides touch experiments; an examination of pain and why it hurts, and the functionality of the body's largest organ—the skin. The collection concludes with a cross-cultural examination of touch from Tibetan monks' Buddhist perspective. How might their experience of touch differ from your own?<br /><br />Based on exhibition project work through <a href="http://scienceformonks.org/">Science for Monks</a> and <a href="http://scienceformonks.org/world-of-your-senses-web-tour/" target="_blank">The World of Your Senses</a> Exhibition (2010).<span class="apple-converted-space"></span></p>

<p>How do we experience the sense of smell? This collection explores the variety of human and animal smell experiences. Videos examine ants that use smell to communicate, orchid bee perfumery, and the unique smell adaptation of the maned wolf. Background information from the website Neuroscience for Kids provides the structure and function of the nose, as well as olfaction experiments. The collection concludes with a cross-cultural examination of touch from a Tibetan monastic Buddhist perspective. How might their experience of smell differ from your own?<br /><br />Based on exhibition project work through <a href="http://scienceformonks.org/">Science for Monks</a> and <a href="http://scienceformonks.org/world-of-your-senses-web-tour/" target="_blank">The World of Your Senses</a> Exhibition (2010).</p>

<p>"The World of Your Senses" shares parallel perspectives from Tibetan Buddhism and western science on sensory perception. This collection explores the questions: How do we see? How does hearing work? How do we perceive smell? How does taste function? How do we sense touch? In addition, the Buddhist perspective includes a sixth sense... mind consciousness!</p> <p>"The World of Your Senses" is the result of many years of work growing out of directives from His Holiness the Dalai Lama and his long history engaging Western scientists in dialogue. The script, content, and imagery were envisioned by a dedicated and curiosity-filled group of thirty Tibetan Buddhist monastics-in-exile from monasteries and nunneries in India, through the "Science for Monks and Nuns" program. The creation of the physical exhibit, launched in 2010, was supported through a unique collaboration between the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives (LWTA in Dharamsala, India), the Sager Family Foundation, the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. (SCEMS/SCLDA/OET & OEC/Smithsonian Exhibitions), and the Exploratorium in San Francisco. It has since traveled to the United States, Nepal, and Bhutan.</p> <p>The resource is bi-lingual: English and Tibetan.</p> <p>RELATED COLLECTIONS:</p> <p>Senses Series – <strong><a href="http://learninglab.si.edu/q/ll-c/n2f39XxkfBRJeHPk" target="_blank">Sight in Humans and Animals</a></strong>      (<a href="http://learninglab.si.edu/q/ll-c/n2f39XxkfBRJeHPk">http://learninglab.si.edu/q/ll-c/n2f39XxkfBRJeHPk</a>)<br><br>Senses Series – <strong><a href="http://learninglab.si.edu/q/ll-c/7EbVTM49NgWiGrzA" target="_blank">Hearing</a></strong>      (<a href="http://learninglab.si.edu/q/ll-c/7EbVTM49NgWiGrzA">http://learninglab.si.edu/q/ll-c/7EbVTM49NgWiGrzA</a>)<br><br>Senses Series – <strong><a href="http://learninglab.si.edu/q/ll-c/7LjjBHybUk9HE8Wj" target="_blank">Smell</a>      </strong>(<a href="http://learninglab.si.edu/q/ll-c/7LjjBHybUk9HE8Wj">http://learninglab.si.edu/q/ll-c/7LjjBHybUk9HE8Wj</a>)<br><br>Senses Series – <strong><a href="http://learninglab.si.edu/q/ll-c/2w7r7PVoAgghiYmL" target="_blank">Taste</a>    </strong> (<a href="http://learninglab.si.edu/q/ll-c/2w7r7PVoAgghiYmL" style="background-color:rgb(63,63,63);">http://learninglab.si.edu/q/ll-c/2w7r7PVoAgghiYmL</a>)<br><br>Senses Series – <strong><a href="http://learninglab.si.edu/q/ll-c/oon5rHojeyrEwNEE" target="_blank">Touch</a>     </strong>(<a href="http://learninglab.si.edu/q/ll-c/oon5rHojeyrEwNEE" style="background-color:rgb(63,63,63);">http://learninglab.si.edu/q/ll-c/oon5rHojeyrEwNEE</a>)</p> <p><br>This collection is based Science For Monks, <a href="http://scienceformonks.org/world-of-your-senses-web-tour/" target="_blank">World of Your Senses</a> (2010).</p>