July Newsletter 2020 - Virtual Classrooms
Canberra Attractions - Virtual Classrooms
Trip to Canberra not possible right now! Why not try a virtual classroom experience with the following educational institutions and attractions.
- National Museum of Australia
- Parliament House
- National Capital Exhibition
- Australian War Memorial
- MoAD (Museum of Australian Democracy)
- Mulligan's Flat Woodland Sanctuary
- Mount Stromlo Observatory
- National Portrait Gallery
- Questacon
National Museum of Australia
The National Museum of Australia offers digital excursions for students from years 5 to 12. Programs are aligned to the Australian Curriculum and are led by trained education staff via a secure Zoom connection or by negotiation with teachers.
The Australian Nation for years 5 to 10 takes students on a journey through several defining moments in Australian history. This program allows students to explore Australia’s identity through discussion and object interpretation relevant to key moments and events in Australia’s history.
Fight for Indigenous Rights is a program specifically designed to provide information on the rights and freedoms in Australia for years 9 to 12 students. It explores the themes of connection to country, inequality and the fight for recognition. Students are lead through this exploration with object interpretation and inquiry discussions.
For more information email education@nma.gov.au.
Parliament House
Looking for ways to make civics and citizenship more dynamic, relevant and memorable for you and your class? Experience the Parliamentary Education Office’s (PEO) video conferencing programs for students and teachers. Our curriculum-aligned program explores the function and significance of Australia’s democratic system of government. The PEO offer FREE programs for students from years 5 to 12, as well as professional learning for teachers, delivered through a range of video conference platforms.
For more information on these programs and how to book, head to the PEO website or email us at PEOLearning@aph.gov.au.
National Capital Exhibition
The National Capital Exhibition is very pleased to advise that we now offer all our school programs as virtual tours, including our new program: Home for History, which allows primary students to experience what life was like at Blundells Cottage. Emphasis is placed on sensory learning and technological changes throughout 100 years of families living at the cottage. The virtual tour experience is pre-recorded. An interactive classroom discussion post tour with an NCE educator may be arranged via the school’s preferred form of video conferencing.
NCE learning programs such as The story of Canberra, Anzac Parade Memorial tour and Reconciliation Place walking tour are also available as virtual offerings via the same video conferencing options. These three programs are now recognised as alternative first tier options within the PACER subsidy program. We endeavour to maintain the highest quality presentation and delivery in all our program offerings.
Current onsite program options are available as well, with Covid-Safety measures observed including reduced numbers per group. Please see website for details.
For more information email NCE@nca.gov.au
Australian War Memorial
The Australian War Memorial has a diverse range of online resources for schools which can be found on the Classroom resources page. Keep an eye out for new resources for early learners, and a virtual visit for secondary students, available shortly.
Although the Memorial Box program is not currently in operation, dozens of case studies and exploration of collection material is accessible here. Teachers may also like to access online exhibitions, articles, podcasts, and much more, at www.awm.gov.au.
The Memorial hosts a limited number of Virtual Excursions each term, where school groups participate in a live, curriculum-linked program with a member of the Education team. Students can take a short tour through the galleries, see items from the National Collection, hear stories of men and women who have served for Australia, and explore the Commemorative Area. For more information and bookings, please visit our virtual excursion page.
All visitors are welcome to scroll through the galleries using Google Street View.
MoAD Digital Excursions
Join the MoAD Learning team for one of our fully facilitated live digital excursions where we bring the heritage spaces of Old Parliament House directly to you. Whether you are educating your students in their classroom, or you require a multi-connect program for students as they are learning from home – our programs are ready to adapt to your teaching needs. In real time our educators guide students through the building to explore some key people and events in our democracy. Students participate in interactive activities, role-play and discussions to learn about their role as active citizens in their communities.
To find out more and book one of our K-12 programs, visit: https://www.moadoph.gov.au/learning/teachers/digital-excursions/
Mulligans Flat Woodland Santuary
Explore Mulligans Flat through the eyes of the DIGIVOL: Secret Life of Critters camera trap network to discover the nocturnal secrets of the sanctuary. Help our experts gather real data on population density and diversity!
Download our app, log onto our weekly webinars or join our online classroom at https://mulligansflat.org.au/virtual-sanctuary/
Mount Stromlo Observatory
Mount Stromlo Observatory’s Astronomy at Home videos cover a wide variety of topics within astronomy and space science and cater to a range of ages. Content available on demand.
Home videos: https://rsaa.anu.edu.au/public/movies-public-lectures?title=&tid_1%5B%5D=132
National Portrait Gallery
Live video programs at the National Portrait Gallery encourage participants to explore new ideas, ways of seeing and to respond creatively, in order to understand and appreciate Australian history, people and art.
Our tours are very flexible and can be tailored to almost any area of Australian history, society and culture. With over 3000 portraits of prominent Australians, there’s a lot to explore. And our drawing and self-expression exercises can bring out the artist in anybody!
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Virtual tours are 60-minute cultural programs where your group has access to a National Portrait Gallery educator via video conferencing.
You simply connect using a laptop or a computer with a webcam. Connect the computer to a large screen so an audience can watch and participate.
Make a booking and the National Portrait Gallery will email you more information with instructions on how to connect with us.
Questacon
Questacon offers a large range of online science resources including instructions for DIY science experiments, classroom activities based on their teacher workshops and Virtual Excursions. Visit Questacon at Home to discover a range of downloadable activity sheets, video resources and more. The Questacon Shop is still open for online orders, with a large range of science products including teacher resources and science kits.