The Smithsonian X 3D Project (with special guest: Abe Lincoln)

The Smithsonian X 3D program scans exhibits and artifacts from the Smithsonian museum in Washington, D.C. into 3D computer models. They upload them to the web so that users can look at the models from different angles and scroll closer to get an in-depth look at the minute details of the exhibits.

Face mold of Abraham Lincoln

This tool would be very helpful in classrooms for many reasons; indeed, part of the reason the Smithsonian decided to start digitizing their exhibits was for the benefit of students.

One reason this tool would be helpful in classroom situations is because it is expensive to take a classroom of students on a trip to Washington D.C. Many schools across the United States do have class trips to the Smithsonian, but not all students are able to go because of the cost. Plane tickets or gas must be bought to get to the museum, and lodging must be found. Additionally, there must be money for food, souvenirs, and museums fees or tips. When I was in high school, my mom, grandma, and I road tripped from Seattle to the East Coast to visit American historical sites, and even though there were only three of us, it was still an expensive trip. By having Smithsonian exhibits online, students from both high income and low income students can visit the exhibits online without having to spend the money to see it in real life. Of course, a downside to viewing things only online is that students do not get the experience of visiting these things in real life. As we talked about in class, it is a different experience viewing things in person versus online. When viewing things online, there is a layer of removal that one does not get when one views something in person. Also, students would not get the experience of taking a trip with their classmates and making lifelong memories. I will always remember the trip that my mom, grandma, and I took not only because of all of the American history we were able to see but also because we were able to deepen our relationships with one another along the way.

My mom and grandma join the Lincoln family

Sixteen-year-old Abbey and her mom become Washingtons

A second reason the Smithsonian X 3D website is helpful for students is because of the feature that allows the user to view the artifact or exhibit from different angles and zoom in on specific details. Often, in museums, glass separates the onlooker from the exhibit in order to preserve the artifacts, which are often fragile. Sometimes, exhibits can only be seen from the front, so it is impossible to see what the back or underside of an artifact looks like. With the Smithsonian’s 3D technology, students can explore all angles of an artifact and get as close as they want. Perhaps it is not as accurate and handling the artifact in real life, for these exhibits have been digitized, but students are not usually allowed to handle artifacts anyway. This is the best way for students to get a full idea of what these artifacts look like.

A third reason that this 3D tool is useful in the classroom is because of the “tours” provided. Most of the artifacts come with a tour comprising of several slides with information about the artifact. Every time a user advances a slide, the computer zooms in to the particular part of the artifact that the slide is talking about. There are additional reference pictures in the slides, too. This is helpful because it provides information and visual aids that a teacher does not have to search for him or herself. On the other hand, if all the information is on the screen, it may discourage teachers from doing their own research.

Overall, the Smithsonian X 3D program is very well-developed and useful in classroom situations. The team working on this project has only digitized a very, very small percentage of the historical and cultural material that the Smithsonian owns. If they are able to continue creating a 3D database, there will be a vast amount of resources available for everyone everywhere for very little cost.  

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