Middleton participates in National Air and Space Museum’s Teacher Innovator Institute

Bobbi Middleton stands in front of the space suit Neil Armstrong wore on the moon. Courtesy photo
Bobbi Middleton stands in front of the space suit Neil Armstrong wore on the moon. Courtesy photo

Bobbi Middleton of Madison Public Schools was selected to participate in the Teacher Innovator Institute at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. The Teacher Innovator Institute teaches middle-school educators how to bring the museum experience into their classrooms by exploring connections between informal STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) education and authentic learning. The two-week immersive program welcomed over 60 teachers from across the country in Summer 2023, a returning cohort and a new cohort of 32.

Middleton is a Primarily Math graduate and participated in David Harwood's GEOS 898 field course this summer.

The program included hands-on activities, museum tours, behind-the-scenes museum experiences, visits to other museums and group work. Teachers benefited from the expertise of museum educators and content experts and be able to use aerospace science, history and technology to shape their ideas about authentic learning and bring informal education techniques to their classrooms.
Educators in the program committed two weeks each summer for two summers. During those two weeks, they actively participate in sessions led by Smithsonian staff and guests and propose and complete a professional development plan.

To learn more, visit the National Air and Space Museum’s website: https://airandspace.si.edu/teacher-innovator-institute.