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Learning Tools and Interactives

Libraries and museums are creating new interactive experiences using the latest research about learning.

WebWise logoNational Initiatives: WebWise
The WebWise Conference annually brings together representatives of museums, libraries, archives, systems science, education, and other fields interested in the future of highquality online content for inquiry and learning.

Search
the Awarded Grants database for grants to programs that strengthen learning tools and interactives (issue areas have only been assigned to grants awarded since FY 2009)

Learning tools and interactives content on the IMLS Web site:
Curriculum Development Team teacher Alisa Ripley poses with her 4th grade art class.
March 2010: In East Texas, the TIDES Bring Digital Resources to Students


To expand its online collection to subject areas beyond local history, the Steen Library at Stephen F. Austin State University in East Texas worked with local teachers – and some in Mexico – to add Hispanic culture and world history resources. Read More

 
Volunteer Voices: Tennessee’s Rich History Is Collected Online
November 2009: Volunteer Voices: Tennessee’s Rich History Is Collected Online


Tennessee history abounds with major events. Thousands of documents, photographs, and other items are held throughout the state, but they had never been assembled in one place. Now, with a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), researchers and librarians in Tennessee have created volunteervoices.org, a rich online collection of nearly 11,000 documents and photographs about life through the decades in the Volunteer State. Read More

 
Children participate in PlayWorks™ at the Children's Museum of Manhattan
January 2009: PlayWorks™ Provides Whole-family Learning In a Child-friendly Environment


Children feed alphabet letters to a talking baby dragon, drive a New York City fire truck, paint on a six-foot art wall, and crawl through a challenge course in PlayWorks™ at the Children's Museum of Manhattan (CMOM) in New York. Read More

 
Steve: The Museum Social Tagging Project
November 2008: Steve Eases Online Searches of Museum Web Sites


For museums seeking greater and more engaged audiences for their online collections, steve.museum may offer some answers. The concept is simple: individuals contribute descriptions about the art (and other collection objects) on museum Web sites using the steve tagger. Read More

 
National Medal
October 2008: IMLS Honors 10 Museums and Libraries for Outstanding Community Service


Five museums and five libraries have won the 2008 National Medal for Museum and Library Service, the nation’s highest honor for institutions that make significant and exceptional contributions to their communities. Read More