SLA

"The Museum Experience"
A 9th Grade Enrichment Workshop at The Franklin Institute

Through The Science Leadership Academy's partnership with The Franklin Institute, our 9th grade class will have a unique opportunity to further their project-based, interdisciplinary studies through a weekly workshop at The Franklin Institute. Facilitated by the renowned TFI Education Staff and centered around the rich resources and exhibits housed at the museum, these weekly enrichment sessions will provide our students with an unparalleled exposure to and exploration of multiple facets of scientific inquiry. Our students will get a "behind the scenes" view of The Franklin Institute, as well as access the museum's archives and exhibits—making this world-renowned museum into an extension of our campus.

Working closely with their Advisory Groups, students will participate in The Museum Experience through a revolving program of interdisciplinary "strands." Each strand will have an opportunity to explore its topics from a variety of angles, complete a number of hands-on activities and projects, and infuse digital media arts and communication technology at every turn. The Museum Experience will be a prime example to our students in their first year at SLA of the potential real-world application of our school's core values of inquiry, research, collaboration, presentation, and reflection.

The possible strands for The Museum Experience include:

• The Scientific Enterprise - In this strand, students will use TFI's large-scale exhibits as a launching point for deeper scientific study. Students will also gain access to TFI's expansive archives and library of primary documents to uncover the complexity and messiness of scientific inquiry throughout the process of discovery.

   

• Science and the Museum Visitor - In this strand, students will consider questions of design, interfaces, and architecture as they are used in a science museum to exhibit and communicate information to a diverse public. Consider this Museum Science and Curatorial Studies 101.

   

• Museums and the Digital Future - In this strand, students will learn the multiple uses of technology in a science museum like The Franklin Institute, and think creatively and innovatively about the potential of further technological integration. Possibilities for the direction of these projects could include researching and producing Audio Podcasts for walking tours of the Museum, creating "blogs" and "vlogs" for visitors' reflections, and designing webpages as an enrichment feature.

The School District of Philadelphia
School Reform Commission
James E. Nevels, Chair
Martin G. Bednarek
Sandra Dungee Glenn
James Gallagher, Ph. D.
Daniel Whelan

Paul G. Vallas, Chief Executive Officer
Gregory Thornton, Ed. D., Chief Academic Officer
Albert Bichner, Deputy Chief Academic Officer
Janet C. Samuels, Center City Regional Superintendent

The Franklin Institute Science Museum, 222 North 20th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
www.fi.edu