Within the teaching museum, experiential learning extends from the museum to the campus to the world. Following WSU’s Strategic Plan, how do we participate and contribute to the education of students to meet challenges that face our future leaders such as globalization, health, energy, environment, and infrastructure? Through open invitations to participate with actual physical objects, students connect their personal experiences and interests with the long social histories of works of art. The results are increased opportunities for deep and holistic learning experiences where our students become passionate positive forces in the world—willing to act for the common good.
The Ulrich Museum’s over 6,700 works of art are a universal resource for teaching and learning. Our education department works closely with faculty and educators to develop curricular resources and provide Visual Thinking Strategies sessions with works of art that connect to course topics. In these discussions, students develop both the confidence and language skills to debate complex ideas with their classmates and at the same time learn to disagree civilly and build on information and ideas from others.
We want to expand our outreach to all university faculty, especially those whose disciplines don’t typically connect to art and art scholarship.
Educators can select from over 20 lesson plans developed for virtual and in-classroom teaching—highlighting the artists and artworks found in the Ulrich collection—including Faith Ringgold, Gordon Parks, Benny Andrews, Luis Azaceta, and Alice Aycock, to name just a few. All lesson plans are aligned with Kansas Visual Arts Standards and are available in the Curriculum Resources portion of the Collection Study Program page.
Guided tours of the Ulrich Museum’s current exhibitions and/or the Martin H. Bush Outdoor Sculpture Collection are available for groups of 10 or more. Tours can be developed to connect with curricular needs for college and K-12 educators. The Ulrich Museum will provide bus reimbursement for K-12 school groups who participate in the Ulrich Tour Program, up to $300 per group visit. We are grateful to Saroj Arab, WSU alum and retired USD 259 teacher, for her generous gift to assure this program continues to provide meaningful experiences with the art of our time for students and educators. Schedule a tour.
