Songpa Book Museum, Children's Program Online Education

Published 26 Apr.2020 10:06(KST)

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Songpa-gu (Mayor Park Seong-su) is offering the Songpa Book Museum’s education and exhibition programs online for children who find it difficult to engage in outdoor activities due to COVID-19.

Recently marking its first anniversary, the Songpa Book Museum has been temporarily closed since February to prevent the spread of COVID-19. In response, the museum has integrated virtual reality into its special exhibition “Songbooks, Singing the Era” and continues to support residents’ cultural enjoyment online.

This time, a program has been prepared for children who are spending more time at home due to delayed school openings. The permanent and special exhibitions previously operated at the Songpa Book Museum have been produced online so that children can enjoy videos while learning.

Three programs centered on books such as songbooks and picture books have been created.

First, ▲“Humming Along, the Story of Songbooks” allows elementary school students to learn about the history of Korean popular music in connection with the special exhibition “Songbooks, Singing the Era.” Participants can complete cassette tape-shaped activity sheets and even experience making a radio. This program is held every Wednesday and Friday at 2 p.m. until the end of June.

Also, ▲“Twinkle Twinkle, Circle Books” helps children develop imagination by using circle shapes to create picture books in a calendar format. This program is for families with children aged 6 to 7 and is held every Tuesday and Saturday at 2 p.m. until the end of June.

▲“Secret Study, Find Grandpa’s Books!” explores bestsellers from different eras and teaches modern Korean history by making timeline cards in a pop-up format.

This program is held every Saturday at 3 p.m. from May 16 to the end of June for elementary school students in grades 4 to 6.

The education sessions are conducted using the online video conferencing platform Zoom and can be attended via PC or smartphone. Real-time two-way communication with instructors is possible, and participants can create provided teaching materials, offering an immersive experience comparable to on-site education. However, to ensure smooth communication and better concentration, the sessions are held in small groups. Each session accepts 5 participants on a first-come, first-served basis. Applications can be made through the Songpa Book Museum website (www.bookmuseum.go.kr) or the Seoul Public Reservation Service (yeyak.seoul.go.kr).

The participation fee is 2,000 KRW per session, including tuition and material costs. Teaching materials will be shipped to the address provided at the time of application.

Park Seong-su, Mayor of Songpa-gu, stated, “We have introduced online services for those who have not been able to visit the Songpa Book Museum or find it difficult to engage in outdoor activities due to the museum’s closure. Although these are challenging times due to COVID-19, we will support residents’ cultural enjoyment in various ways.”