Education

Building a foundation for growth

Indiana’s students are its future. Building a foundation for intellectual and creative growth and strengthening local children’s educational experiences in their hometowns creates a pathway for success for communities.

We collaborate with school, community, regional, and state partners to connect the region’s K-12 students and their teachers with innovative curriculum resources and professional development at IU Bloomington.

Together with school district leaders, we are strengthening education outcomes for students by integrating the cultural resources of IU Bloomington into school curricula and visits to the campus.

The Uplands Maker Mobile

Loaded with a full suite of maker tools, the Uplands Maker Mobile brings making to schools and organizations throughout the Indiana Uplands with workshops for children and adults, development and training for teachers and professionals, and assistance at events and projects.

Coordinated by the School of Education, this hands-on approach is a way to garner further conversation and interest in making for organizations while offering unique programming options not typically available without a makerspace.

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Follow the Uplands Maker Mobile on the road!
Rural art teachers convene on campus for a STEAM training session.
Rural art teachers convene on campus for a STEAM training session.
Rural art teachers convene on campus for a STEAM training session.
Rural art teachers convene on campus for a STEAM training session.
Rural art teachers convene on campus for a STEAM training session.

STEAM Middle School Curriculum Program

The IU Center for Rural Engagement is working with STEAM experts at the IU School of Education to implement year-long middle school programs that brings arts teachers to campus for a summer training session that provides knowledge and tools to launch STEAM projects at their local schools. Arts, science, and engineering educators develop projects and empower students to address local needs and concerns with working products, such as solar energy panels, traffic safety devices, and environmental protection measures.

Elementary student participates in IU Eskenazi Museum art therapy program.

Rural Teachers Engaging Art

The IU Eskenazi Museum of Art’s Rural Teachers Engaging Art program provides school-based techniques for engaging with museum collections in ways that help teachers understand and utilize the healing and educational power of the arts. The program uses an emergent approach to outreach that features co-created, arts-based experiences that speak to the needs and goals of individual teachers.

Create thriving rural communities with us