The Carnegie Museum of Natural History (in partnership and sponsored by a bunch of people) is launching a program called the Digital Discovery Room. Here is what they have to say about it:
The new Digital Discovery Room hosted by Carnegie Museum of Natural History invites children ages 3–8 to explore their world and share their discoveries with museum experts and science educators!
What is the Digital Discovery Room?Digital Discovery Room is an innovative technology-based nature program that encourages your early learner to interact with the natural world and to share discoveries with science experts who can cultivate your child’s interest in the animals and plants that live all around us.
Research shows that self-directed exploration is an important part of a child’s learning development, and as anyone with a child in their life knows, kids love playing in nature! Digital Discovery Room provides families the opportunity to turn outside playtime into learning time, through the use of modern tools such as digital cameras and the Web. Posting their nature photos and observations to the online Digital Discovery Room forum opens up an interaction with museum experts and science educators that allows families to foster their child’s crucial relationship with the environment.
Sounds like a pretty cool idea. If you think so too click on the link above to check it out more and register to recieve an email when they start the program (in Fall 2011).