Professional Development
Teacher Professional Development Coming In 2009
The National Museum of American History is developing a series of professional development resources to help teachers apply object-based learning techniques in the classroom. Planned resources include teacher tip sheets, videos, and workshops.
What is Object-Based Learning and Why Use It?
Museum artifacts, like other primary sources, bring a powerful sense of authenticity to classroom learning. Similar to oral histories, photographs, and documents, physical objects provide first hand evidence about a person, place, or event that can bring history to life for students.
Here are compelling reasons for using artifacts in the classroom:
Appeals to Students
Students have a natural fascination with objects. Historic objects are real pieces of the past that exist in the present. We can look at them and touch them. Even the use of historically accurate reproductions in your classroom will stimulate students to look at everyday objects in a new way.
Addresses Various Learning Styles
Providing students with a variety of primary sources makes it possible for teachers to accommodate the learning styles of all students. For example, visual learners can work with objects, documents, or works of art while auditory learners listen to oral histories or analyze song lyrics.
Makes Learning Active
Primary sources engage students in active learning. By drawing their own conclusions from primary sources, students construct meaning and direct their own learning.
Develops Skills
Using primary sources help students develop and refine cognitive, investigative, deductive reasoning, and problem-solving skills. Students draw conclusions from information obtained through the analysis of primary source materials.
Provides Different Perspectives
Different types of primary sources with varying perspectives or representing different viewpoints provide students with a balanced interpretation of a person or event.
Supports Differentiation
Learning to "read" objects can be done at any developmental level and is not dependant on reading skills.
