Alberta Education
5th – 6th Grade
Online Education
The Need
Alberta Education, located in Edmonton, Canada, identified the need to create a 5th – 6th grade digital learning resource (DLR). The education staff desired to have this resource focus on the roles of people working in a museum, how to build a museum exhibit, and learn about the history of Sir Samuel Steele, the first of the Northwest Mounted Police.
The Solution
KDG supported Alberta Education by developing an interactive and multimedia-rich online digital learning resource (DLR). This DLR helps students gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of how to build a museum exhibit and the people who make this happen. In addition, the student learns about the history and significance of Sir Samuel Steele.
Alberta Education acquired diaries and artifacts of Sir Samuel Steele’s life provided by curators and historians from the Glenbow Museum. KDG and the Alberta team then worked from the selected diaries and photos and created an interactive journey that includes rich multimedia, a cast of characters, and abundant interactive activities.
To begin the program, the student as an avatar must first talk to a curator, a historian, and an archivist to learn how each contributes to building an exhibit. There is the opportunity to explore exhibits along the way and learn more about Sir Samuel Steele. The student is then granted access to the collections room.
A final task is put to the students after entering the collections room to create their own exhibit using items from the Steele collection. The student must choose a theme, select three artifacts that support that theme, and write explanations for each artifact explaining why it is important. The student can then place the artifacts in a display case, and save it to share and discuss with fellow classmates.
This program has provided students the opportunity to learn about Sam Steele and his contribution to Canada as well as understand the careers at a museum and how to build a museum exhibit.
