July 1, 2020—Due to COVID-19, the CDC recommends that schools assess field trips and consider postponing them, but a new option is now available. BIG & Digital, LLC, is launching the Cinema Learning Challenge Virtual Field Trip Experience in July 2020, as a no-contact, educational alternative to traditional field trips and outreach programs.
Cinema Learning Challenge (CLC) was created in 2017 and has served thousands of students in Clark County, Nevada. Now this successful program is launching worldwide and going virtual. CLC Online is partnering with museums to make Virtual Field Trips available to their audiences.
CLC Online offers two options: a package that combines a streamed film with complementary hands-on activities led by an educator or expert, or a streamed film only. Each Virtual Field Trip package includes a secure, virtual experience for the film, presenter and audience. Or, any streamed film can be added to any existing field trip or workshop. All films support National Academic Content Standards. The dynamic roster of available presenters includes regional Emmy® award winner Janet Ivey of Janet’s Planet.
Tina Ratterman, the founder of CLC, said, “I want to help museums and theaters succeed, especially during this difficult time. If schools and groups aren’t able to take field trips, we can bring the field trips to them! Museums can support their mission of education while enjoying a new revenue source through Virtual Field Trips."
With Virtual Field Trip Experiences, there are no transportation costs and no logistics to worry about. Students and groups can participate in the classroom, in an assembly space or from home. The learning experience can be extended at home when family members join in on the screening at no additional fee. Virtual Field Trips can also be offered to museum members as a special event or an on-demand experience.
Museums interested in partnering with CLC Online should contact Tina Ratterman. Additionally, potential sponsors seeking brand alignment with science and technology learning can contact Ratterman to explore sponsorship and underwriting opportunities to help make CLC Online accessible to all.
Films available for streaming through CLC Online are suitable for a variety of grade levels with content ranging from STEM to literacy to social studies. Current titles include Space Next and Watermelon Magic. In August Expedition Chesapeake: A Journey of Discovery and Dragons: Real Myths and Unreal Creatures will be available, with even more films being added in September. Special events will be announced soon, including an Educator Event, a Museum Partner Kick-Off and Virtual Marketing Meeting and a Watermelon Magic event in July, for National Watermelon Month.
CLC was founded by Tina Ratterman, President of BIG & Digital, a Las Vegas-based boutique distributor of educational films for museums and planetariums. BIG & Digital manages the CLC program, both in Las Vegas at Galaxy Theatres at Boulevard Mall and online. CLC is a Nevada nonprofit corporation. 501(c)(3) status is pending.
Valentine Kass, former National Science Foundation Program Director, serves as an advisor for CLC. Kass said, “I have always admired what Tina has accomplished with BIG & Digital. The idea of starting an online platform for virtual field trips, especially for communities without access to large-format theaters, is certainly timely.”
The program has provided giant screen films and complementary hands-on educational activities led by educators and experts since 2018, with Galaxy Theatres as the host venue. CLC is a proud member of Connecting Hands Offering Lifelong Learning Adventures (CHOLLA) and has received the support of the Clark County, Nevada, School District and Career Technology Education administrative department.
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Cinema Learning Challenge: https://www.facebook.com/CinemaLearningChallenge/
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About BIG & Digital
BIG & Digital specializes in distribution of films for museums with IMAX®, Giant Screen and Fulldome Theaters worldwide. BIG & Digital was founded in 2009 by Tina Ratterman, a veteran in the giant screen industry with 20+ years of successful marketing and distribution experience. Tina currently serves (2017-present) on the Board of Directors of the Giant Screen Cinema Association (GSCA) and on the GSCA Industry Development Committee. She was also a GSCA Marketing Achievement Awards Judge during 2018. More information can be found at www.biganddigital.com.
Source: BIG & Digital