Distance Learning Resources
Resources, training, and support to assist caregivers, teachers, and students as they face new learning challenges.

Everything Under the Sun*
*Well...maybe not everything... but the Smithsonian Learning Lab puts the treasures of the world's largest museum, education, and research complex within reach. The Lab is a free, interactive platform for discovering millions of authentic digital resources, creating content with online tools, and sharing in the Smithsonian's expansive community of knowledge and learning.
Discover
What will you find in Smithsonian Learning Lab?
Millions of Smithsonian digital images, recordings, texts, and videos in history, art and culture, and the sciences
Thousands of examples of resources organized and structured for teaching and learning by educators and subject experts
Millions of Smithsonian digital images, recordings, texts, and videos in history, art and culture, and the sciences
Thousands of examples of resources organized and structured for teaching and learning by educators and subject experts
Who uses the Learning Lab?
In short... it's people like you. We created the learning lab so anyone can quickly discover and adapt authorative subject-relevant resources.
Browse individual resources by type
Browse model collections on different topics
Create
Create collections of resources to engage learners, or freely adapt ones already made by Learning Lab users like you.
Use Learning Lab tools to customize and enhance your collections.
Copy a Collection
Adapt exemplars to personalize them for your learners.
Upload
Upload aids and resources you already use and value.
Annotations and Hotspots
Make a collection student-friendly, with information, focus, and interactivity.
Quizzes and Assignments
Build in guidance and supports for students.
Browse ready-to-use model collections by educational use
Browse ready-to-use model collections by learning strategy or theme
Learn
Grow your skills and stay connected with the
Learning Lab Community
Grow your skills and stay connected with the Learning Lab Community
News and Teaching Tips
Professional Development and Events
Distance Learning with the Smithsonian
Inspiring Civic Engagement
June 27–July 1, 2022
Teachers, join six Smithsonian museums in this free, virtual professional development and discover how art and objects can help students explore the challenges and opportunities of living in a democracy while inspiring civic action. Learn more and register.The Smithsonian is committed to supporting teachers and their students around the globe as they face unprecedented new learning challenges.
Visit our Distance Learning Page for resources, trainings, and a full calendar of live events hosted by experts from across the Smithsonian.
Recurring Live Help Sessions
In Getting Started, explore the basics of using the Lab to support learning with digital museum resources. In Creating Collections, learn how to create and personalize collections of digital museum resources to support your teaching. We’ll answer any burning questions you have for the Learning Lab team in the second half of both sessions. Need help finding a resource or using one of the Lab’s tools and features? Just want to say "hello"? Take a minute to tune in!
Thursday, May 24, 2022
5–6 PM, ET
Recent Events
Monday, April 4, 2022
4–5 PM, ET
Join Hirshhorn Museum educators for an active exploration of how contemporary art and teaching strategies for close looking, conversation, storytelling, and playful art-making can help students better understand their own identities.
Create a Free Smithsonian Learning Lab Account