Through its Flint Hills Resources Center for Excellence in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Education, the Texas State Aquarium brings together best practices and innovation from the fields of education, research and industry to advance education and learning, in and out of the classroom, in south Texas and beyond.
Flint Hills Resources has also been our longtime presenting partner for Aquavision Distance Learning.
As a cornerstone of our mission, education brings discovery and experiential learning to each student. Our aquarium is the perfect platform for conservation education for students of all ages.
Our education activities – from field trips to summer camp to distance learning- promote inclusive and collaborative learning, foster STEM exploration and discovery, and empower learners of all ages to reach their full potential.
Guiding Principles for Learning:
Science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) concepts and processes are central pillars of all TSA education activities.
All STEM disciplines can be explored and understood through an ocean/aquatic-centric theme.
Student or learner-centered experiences cultivate self-motivation, reflection, and active learning, all of which support the student in the construction of their own understanding and learning.
Sparking interest in and curiosity for the natural world helps foster science discovery and learning.
A hands-on exploration of (and in) nature can promote a sense of connection to and stewardship for the environment.
Supporting enjoyment and fun is integral to the creation of meaningful and sustained learning.
Recognizing and incorporating prior knowledge into an interaction facilitates conversation and personalizes the learning experience.
Creating experiences that use multiple modalities promotes inclusion for a wide variety of participants.
Participation in collaborative learning activities encourages an active exchange of ideas, understanding and explanations (by the participants), and promotes critical thinking.
Science is an interactive, ongoing and variable process that can be experienced by making observations, asking questioning, testing ideas, being creative, and sharing information and explanations.