eLearning
The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center's eLearning strategy uses digital media and information technology to provide a range of 21st Century experiences that empower learners and educators to immerse themselves in freedom's environment at greater depth, more quickly, and with new layers of complexity. Our programs in this area bring together the Freedom Center's exhibit-driven visit experience and our new digital learning commons, powered by the Freedom Center's 158,000 SQ FT wi-fi hot spot.
By combining elements of freedom struggles past and present, technology, and 21st Century teaching and learning, we accomplish several goals in line with our mission to extend the lessons of courage, cooperation, and perseverance beyond the walls of our facility.
- Extend access to stories of freedom struggles past and present, and the examples of modern day freedom heroes, to communities everywhere
- Create opportunities for wireless access to the Greater Cincinnati community of educators, life-long learners, and professional
- Promote digital equity by integrating the latest computing and multi-media technology experiences into diverse communities
- Develop the next generation of talent by serving as a convening point for creating, accessing, and exchanging 21st Century Skills developing experiences
eLearning Projects
"Freedom Is..." 1:1 learning experience
To position learners as the leaders in global freedom struggles we must ensure they are adequately equipped to function as 21st Century, Global Citizens. The Freedom Center's "Freedom Is..." 1:1 learning experience, powered by Apple, does just that. Moving beyond content, this one-of-a-kind learning experience uses 1:1 wireless computing and freedom struggles past and present as a context for accessing, reflecting upon, and creating shared meanings of freedom.
Educators and Learners participating in this experience receive training on the latest digital media devices, content creation, and productivity tools from the Freedom Center's team. Instruction stresses critically important 21st Century Skills:
- Creativity and Innovation
- Collaboration
- Research and Information Literacy
- Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
- Digital Citizenship and Diversity
- Technology Fluency
The "Freedom Is..." 1:1 learning experience is available to groups and requires four hours to complete.
"How do YOU define freedom?"
On-Demand Digital Video Collection
The Freedom Center is partnering with schools and business partners to enhance classroom teaching and learning by offering broadcast quality videos that can be use to supplement learning activities. Using digital video in the classroom is a proven instructional support that allows students to self-pace complex themes, facilitates differentiated instruction, and increases student engagement.
With over 30 digital video titles in our collection, the Freedom Center is eager to excite and inspire your next learning activity.
iTunes U, Beyond Campus Portal
Now there's an area in the iTunes Store devoted entirely to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. Here, you can access audio and video files capturing the Freedom Center's public speakers series, expert interpretations of our core exhibits-the John W. Anderson Slave Pen, Tom Feeling's Mural, Aminah Robinson's Journeys I & II, Carl Westmoreland's Freedom Radio broadcasts, student digital media projects about the Freedom Center, and much more. The Freedom Center experience isn't just for those who visit anymore. Take us along in your iPod and listen to us on your computer anytime, anyplace.
Get ready for this experience by downloading iTunes here:http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/
For more information on the Freedom Center's eLearning projects email Kieli Ferguson, Manager of Educational Initiatives, kferguson@nurfc.org