Maritza Macdonald

LH: Maritza, what kinds of educational activities happen at your museum? MM: In addition to the scientific and exhibition departments that provide the research and interpretation of science and culture for the public in general, we have three distinct centers in the education department. The Centre for Lifelong Learning offers all public programs designed for multiple audiences who see the museum as a scientific and cultural place of enjoyment and learning. These include programs for families with children and adult audiences. The Gottesman Center for Science Teaching and Learning provides programs and resources to formal education from pre-K to 16, field trips for half a million students a year, and professional development programs for teachers in all areas of science in the forms of workshops, summer and winter institutes, and graduate programs for science teacher education institutions. The Center for Science Literacy, Education and Technology develops all digital and online educational resources and courses. For example, our Seminars on Science provide science and pedagogy graduate online courses designed and taught by teams of teacher educators (pedagogy) and scientists (content). We also have extensive online resources and programs developed around specific exhibits (see www.amnh.org/education).