Education

The Smithsonian Science Education Center (SSEC) launched the Smithsonian Science for North and South Carolina Classrooms program in 2019 with a U.S. Department of Education early phase Education Innovation and Research (EIR) grant.

Director of the Smithsonian Science Education Center Carol O'Donnell delivered the lightning talk, "ESD for ESG: Education for Sustainable Development," at the 2022 Global Talent Summit in Washington, DC, on October 5, 2022. The Global Talent Summit (GTS) is the premier space for multi-disciplinary stakeholders from the private sector, policy, academia, and innovation to come together to discuss the trends and solutions for the future of work and education.

Smithsonian Science Education Center Director, Dr. Carol O'Donnell, delivered the commencement speech at the University of Pittsburgh December 2022 Graduation. Dr. O'Donnell is at 1983 graduate of the University of Pittsburgh's teacher education program. Details on the graduation can be found here: https://www.education.pitt.edu/student-services/graduation/d...

You may be familiar with the action-focused aim of the Smithsonian Science for Global Goals guides. As explained by Laurie Rosatone, Division Director of Curriculum, Digital Media, and Communications at the Smithsonian Science Education Center (SSEC), the goal is “to have anyone picking up these guides feel like there is something that they want to and can do and that they can act in their local communities around these huge global challenges.”

The Smithsonian Science Education Center (SSEC) launched the Smithsonian Science for North and South Carolina Classrooms program in 2019 with a U.S. Department of Education early phase Education Innovation and Research (EIR) grant.

The Smithsonian Science Education Center (SSEC) launched the Smithsonian Science for North and South Carolina Classrooms program in 2019 with a U.S. Department of Education early phase Education Innovation and Research (EIR) grant.

Description: Today, educators are using the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to help 

Just a few months ago, I was scouring the Internet as a high school senior, trying to find a way to spend my summer before starting my freshman year of college. I have always been drawn to the Smithsonian, from its thriving museums and centers that share ideas to the expansive network of researchers creating new knowledge. I knew I wanted to contribute to this amazing community before I left the greater Washington D.C. Area.

Creating an inclusive environment is something that I strive for. Not only do I work towards making sure my classroom is a safe place, but I also work to make sure that if any student wants to perform an experiment or participate in an activity, they can perform that activity as best they can.  

The following recommendations are based on personal observations and experiences as well as, suggestions I’ve received from friends and students with disabilities.  I offer them as a way to start to engage students with disabilities and create a more inclusive learning space:  

As an educator, I make it a goal to lead by example. Whether it is showing up for my students on a day where I am not feeling 100%, showing up when I have a bad day, or owning up to my mistakes, I make it my goal to show my students how to navigate a world that can be cruel at times. As somebody who cannot hide their disability – a 75lb Labrador is pretty hard to conceal – I must face my situation each day, head on. I receive questions, I see the stares, and I see the doubt in people who think I cannot.