Education

The Frost Museum is conveniently located near the center of campus with a public space and a large teaching collection that was developed specifically for student engagement. As a museum in the life sciences, we are well positioned to aid education across many programs and departments (e.g., data science, museum studies, art, biology, agriculture, ethics). Our resources can be excellent educational tools that allow for hands-on activities, capture natural biological variation, inspire inquiry, and provide a tangible link to broader learning objectives. Please email us at frost.museum@psu.edu to discuss how we can support your teaching goals.

We welcome class visits of all kinds. Below are examples of different use cases of the Frost for Penn State undergraduate education.

Tours

Museum staff and students are happy to provide tours and discuss specific topics depending on your course aims. Examples of past interactions include:

• A behind the scenes look at the operations of the museum
  • Anthropology Museum Studies (ANTH 380)
• Learned how specimens are used in science and how they are cared for to ensure long term preservation
  • Introduction to Entomology (ENT 313)
• Discussion of exhibits, collections, and museum mission
  • Principles of Environmental Interpretation (RPTM 325)

Use of the Public Space

Displays and exhibits open to the general public can be used for self-led activities or projects in collaboration with museum staff. Examples of past interactions include:

• Student led exhibit development and installation
  • Sustainable Studio (ART 433)
• Individual exploration of exhibit content and contemplation of educational utility
  • Child's Play as Educative Processes (ECE 479)

Use of the Teaching Collection

Our teaching collection has thousands of specimens for inspiration and education, and we can custom build drawers specifically for your course. Students can learn about arthropod diversity, observe physical features under a microscope, compare between groups, and make inferences about their biologies. Examples of past interactions include:

• Observations of specimens, to learn characteristics associated with specific arthropod taxa and evolutionary innovations
  • Insect Diversity and Evolution (ENT 432)
  • Spiders (ENT 497)
• Observations of specimens, to compare different body plans of insects, myriapods, and arachnids
  • Invert Zoology (BIOL 417)
• Use of insect specimens as inspiration for design and art training
  • Graphic Design Studio I (GD 200)
  • Ideas as Visual Images (ART 110)