The UIMA's educational programs offer varied audiences the opportunity to learn about art through specialized teaching methods adapted for each group. We serve many schoolchildren at all age levels from across eastern Iowa each year through tours and organized visits.
Our own educational initiatives focus on two very specific curriculum-based programs: "Widen Our World" (WOW!) and "Discover Africa." Since the 2008 flood, both of these programs have been executed as outreach, taking the art into the school classrooms using the UIMA's newly developed Outreach Study Collection.
Our WOW! Program
The UIMA's WOW! program was developed in collaboration with the art teachers of the Iowa City Community School District to reinforce the visual education provided to the third-grade student. Observation and verbal skills, vocabulary, and even appropriate Museum behavior are the teaching goals of the program. The WOW! program has been sponsored by US Bank since its inception.
Discover Africa
This program is directed toward seventh-grade Social Studies classes, in which every Iowa student is required to study Africa. UIMA Director of Education Dale Fisher worked with area social studies educators and with experts from the University to develop a program that gave teachers the opportunity to use the UIMA African collections as a resource for teaching students about traditional African cultures and contemporary African society. A private foundation has provided generous support to enable this endeavor.
