Conner prairie will develop a digital learning initiative for preschool and K-8 teachers as an alternative to onsite field trips during the covid-19 pandemic and beyond

Conner Prairie Museum, Inc. was awarded a $385,166 project grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services' National Leadership Grants program to develop the "Conner Prairie in the Classroom" digital learning initiative. The initiative will provide an array of digital programming and hands-on classroom kits to support digital learning for preschool through 8th grade teachers and students as an alternative to onsite field trips during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. The goal is to reach 40,000 schoolchildren throughout Indiana and across the nation. Continuing education webinars will also serve teachers. A series of evaluations will result in a summative report to be shared at national conferences. The two-year project runs from September 2021 through August 2023.

The ?conner prairie in the classroom? Project will provide an array of digital programming, complemented by ?histeamic? Hands-on classroom kits to support digital learning, digital backpacks to close the digital divide, and supplementary pre- and post-educational materials for educators and parents. The project goal is to reach 40,000 schoolchildren throughout indiana and across the nation. A continuing education program will also serve teachers through live and prerecorded webinars. A series of evaluations will result in a summative report, which will be shared through presentations at national conferences.