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The Discovery Network, a statewide program of the Museum of Discovery, was initiated in 2006 with funding from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation. The Network's goal is to make hands-on, interactive STEM learning more accessible to the state’s school children and their families. The Network provides high-quality professional development, exhibits, and STEM kits for its members.
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CALLING ALL EDUCATORS
The Discovery Network is hosting a workshop on Tuesday, May 8th led by Ryan Jenkins, co-founder of the Wonderful Idea Co. Join us for this workshop to remix some iconic tinkering activities.
While you may think you’ve seen it before, Ryan will take us to the next level with some of our favorite tried and true experiences. Come reimagine paper circuits with coded Chibitronic stickers and computer chips that will activate your classic creations.
We will also put a fresh spin on art robots that will complexify what we have been practicing for years. If you’re new to the tinkering game, this workshop is a perfect avenue to ease into the wonderful world of hands-on learning.
Register here.
Registration fee = $45.00 per participant
Free for Discovery Network members.
For a little more information on one of the new tools, check out Chibitronics: https://chibitronics.myshopify.com/collections
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April is one of our busiest times of the year in terms of traveling exhibits. Daniel Guyton, Traveling Exhibits Manager, has been on the road for several weeks breaking down, installing, shipping, setting up, and refurbishing the Network's traveling exhibits around the state.
The photos above come from recent moves at the Arkansas Museum of Natural Resources in Smackover.
Upcoming Exhibit Openings Around the State
- 3.31.18 - Science on the Move @ Central High School, Helena-West Helena
- 4.21.18 - Imaginate @ Arts & Science Center for Southeast AR, Pine Bluff
- 4.21.18 - Diamonds @ Museum of Discovery, Little Rock
- 4.28.18 - How People Make Things @ Mid-America Science Museum, Hot Springs
- 5.5.18 - Magnificent Me @ ASU Museum, Jonesboro
- 5.12.18 - Dinosaurs: Fossils Exposed @ AR Museum of Natural Resources, Smackover
- 5.19.18 - Tapes & Tunnels @ Scott Family Amazeum, Bentonville
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Our Education staff visited several locations over the past month to deliver on-site tinkering kit training to members and participated in a few community events and conference workshops.
Girl Scouts STEAM Center
Earlier this month, the team traveled to Fort Smith to deliver and train the Girl Scouts STEAM Center staff on their new Cookie Cutter kit. They'll be able to use it in their own space with visiting troups.
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Episcopal Collegiate School
Maker Night at the "E"
Education Manager, Brittney Kugler, featured our Bernoulli Obstacle Course mobile tinkering kit at Episcopal Collegiate's Maker Night at the "E" on April 5th! Students raced each other and completed challenges with their families.
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Arkansas Out-of-School Network
STEM Academy 2018
Director, Pody Gay, and Educator, Margaret Rowan, presented a workshop at the Arkansas Out-of-School Network's (AOSN) Annual STEM Academy last week.
They led the group of after-school program providers in our Teeny Tiny Drawings and Scribbling Machines activities.
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Central Arkansas Library System
Ben Watson, Museum of Discovery's Tinkering Studio Manager, led a training on LEGO Art Bots during an in-service day for CALS' Youth Programmers.
LEGO Art Bots are a version of scribbling machines that use LEGO parts. These customizable machines, powered by battery packs, create patterns when attached to a marker or pen.
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Toad Suck Daze + Tinkerfest
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The Discovery Network is partnering with 25 Central Arkansas elementary schools in 2018, thanks to the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce, Acxiom, and First Arkansas Bank & Trust. The schools are receiving multiple trainings throughout the year and will be able to rotate mobile tinkering kits through each member school.
We are also helping to put on the first ever mini-Tinkerfest at Toad Suck Daze in Conway! We are taking over a part of the festival where students will be showcasing some of our favorite tinkering activities! Come see us on May 4th-5th in downtown Conway! For more information, click here.
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The Carnegie STEM Excellence Pathway provides schools with a process and tools for assessing their current STEM programming, while also creating a practical plan for improvement. Participants attend three one-day workshops, one in the fall and two in the spring, and are able to share ideas with other participating schools.
Here's what one participant had to say about their experience:
“The Discovery Network and STEM Pathway has given our school STEM leaders the opportunity to stop and focus our attention on evaluation, setting goals and planning future STEM integration. Through this process we have been able to glean ideas from other schools and form strong community partnerships to foster professional development opportunities for our staff.”
-Pam Dial, Principal McDermott Elementary, LRSD
The Network is currently enrolling schools for the 2018-2019 academic year. To learn more about this professional development opportunity for schools, check out our video or contact Ginsie Higgs at ghiggs@museumofdiscovery.org.
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We're selling the Race for Planet X mobile science museum! RPX has had a good run at delivering hands-on STEM content to Arkansans for 10 years. While we'll miss seeing it roll down the state's two-lane highways, it's time to find it a new home.
Please feel free to spread the word and direct anyone interested to Ginsie Higgs. More information can be found here.
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June 12, 2018
9:00-4:00 p.m.
Museum of Discovery
Registration Required*
$60 - must register by May 25th
$50 if registered by April 30th
Free for Discovery Network Members
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July 19, 2018
9:00-4:00 p.m.
Museum of Discovery
Registration Required*
$60 - must register by June 29th
$50 if registered by May 25th
Free for Discovery Network Members
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The mission of the Museum of Discovery is to ignite a passion for science, technology, engineering, arts and math in a dynamic, interactive environment.
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