Exploring Problem-Solving Processes with Smithsonian and Microsoft

Something for the wider education community. I think we need to do more to teach problem-solving and critical thinking through out the curriculum so this online conference looks like it would be very helpful to many people in many teaching areas. I especially like that Microsoft is partnering with the incredibly prestigious Smithsonian. Partnerships between educational institutions and industry are very important for building a better society. 

Exploring Problem-Solving Processes with Smithsonian and Microsoft

The Smithsonian Institution and Microsoft US Partners in Learning’s new partnership is designed to help students and educators deepen their understanding of problem-solving processes. Together we are launching a free, multi-disciplinary two-part online conference demonstrating how Smithsonian specialists use critical-thinking skills to solve problems in their areas of expertise.   The conferences will feature live presentations, moderated forums, and an online exhibit hall that will allow participants everywhere to experience virtually the world of Smithsonian collections and Microsoft’s free education tools. Join us and tackle some of the world’s most intriguing problems with historians, scientists, educators, and other experts as they share their questions, their methods, and their intriguing findings.  Click here to register!

	Tuesday, April 13 The American Experience	Wednesday, April 14 Valuing World Cultures		Wednesday, April 28 Unlocking Mysteries of the Universe	Thursday, April 29 Understanding Our Biodiverse Planet
11:00 to 11:50 am EDT	How do we change a stereotype?	Who owns music?		Are there other worlds out there?	What do modern animal bones tell us about biodiversity?
12:00 to 12:50 pm EDT	What can science tell us about American history?	What happens when a people meets its past?		How have we imagined other worlds?	Can development and conservation go hand-in-hand?
2:00 to 2:50 pm EDT	What does clothing communicate?	How does design solve everyday problems?		How do we grasp the vastness of the universe?	How (and why) do we count living things?

https://www.smithsonianconference.org/expert/

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