Vision and Principles
Our vision is to be a leader in STEM discovery, learning and innovation that will shape the intellect, social values and principles of future generations.
Many people don’t think of museums as making social change in communities, but the Long Island Explorium is playing a vital role on Long Island as a lighthouse of enriching STEM programs that foster inventive thinking and serves as a catalyst for empowerment.
OUR MISSION IS TO PROVIDE
- Cutting edge, inventive inquiry based learning experiences for students pre-K to G8 and families
- State-of-the-art professional development for P-12 teachers. The Long Island Explorium is a New York State certified provider of Continuing Teacher and Leader Education (CTLE) credits.
Our professional development training programs help inspire teachers to incorporate STEAM and constructivist approaches into their standards-based lessons. Teachers learn how to foster engagement of all learners through hands-on challenges that explore the engineering design process, encourage teamwork, and incorporate career and civic awareness.
Founded in 2004, The Long Island Explorium is a special place that is extremely important to our community, region, schools and families because it touches so many lives. The minute a visitor steps into our museum, they enter a world of possibilities, wonder, creativity and joy. There is no “sweeter” sound than a crying child refusing to leave the Explorium at the end of their visit. When we bring our enrichment programs to underserved, under-represented communities on Long Island and beyond, we ignite their curiosity, drive their imagination and remove barriers that perpetuate the gender and minority stereotypes of who can be successful in STEM.
The Long Island Explorium is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit, charitable organization.
OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES
Constructivist Approach
Firm belief in the constructivist approach to learning. Children are not empty vessels to be filled with knowledge by teachers; but rather continually constructing their own knowledge. Constructivist teaching invites learners to consider socially important, relevant challenges and endeavors.
Fail Forward
Failure is not a bad thing. It helps us to develop ‘GRIT’. Grit is a distinct combination of passion, resilience, determination, and focus that allows a person to maintain the discipline and optimism to persevere in their goals even in the face of discomfort, rejection, and a lack of visible progress for years, or even decades. The number one predictor of success in life.
Play to Learn
Through play children OF ALL AGES can learn to make sense of the world around them. Play helps children to develop social and cognitive skills, mature emotionally, and gain the self-confidence required to engage in new experiences and environments.
OUR CONSTRUCTIVIST LEARNING APPROACH
What is the Constructivism?
Constructivism is a theory, based on scientific study, of how people learn. Briefly, this learning theory states that people are not empty vessels to be filled with knowledge by others; people continually construct their own knowledge. Constructivist teaching is based on this learning theory and uses practices that invite learners to consider socially important, relevant challenges and endeavors.
Why is it an ideal approach for STEM learning?
Our STEM enrichment programs are research and evidence-based, data driven, drawing largely on the theories of childhood development and education leaders the likes of Jean Piaget, John Dewey and Seymour Papert. The Explorium has a long history of success in educating families in the fields of science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM).
Our curriculum, exhibits and educational approach are unique by design, developed to spark inventive solutions, build confidence by embracing the “fail forward” concept and foster teamwork through hands-on workshops and activities that pose challenges with multiple outcomes or solutions.
Constructivist learning methods successfully supports and develops the next generation of creative thinkers and problem solvers.
Who We Are
HISTORY
The Long Island Explorium (formerly known as the Maritime Explorium & Children's Maritime Museum) was launched in 2004 by a consortium of scientists, educators and entrepreneurial residents seeking to provide a rich educational STEM experience to the Long Island and NY metro area community. In May of 2005, the Long Island Explorium was designated as a 501(c)3 not-for-profit and was chartered with the New York State Department of Education. Because of this focus on creativity and innovation, the Explorium is recognized as Long Island’s Family Maker Space, a place for families to play, create, build and grow together. Today, the Explorium continues to expand its programming to include professional teacher development and training to meet the goals of the Next Generation Science Standards in New York State. The Long Island Explorium is a New York State certified provider of Continuing Teacher and Leader Education ( CTLE) credits.
Our Team
Our Charter
NEW YORK STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT ABSOLUTE CHARTER
The Long Island Explorium received Absolute Charter from the Education Department of New York in 2021.
According to New York State Museum: "When the organization has a record of financial stability, programmatic accomplishment, and a reputation for excellence, it is often successful in meeting the registration requirements. With this successful review and recommendation that the Regents allow an absolute charter, the historical society is then registered and gains this absolute charter."
