How do informal learning organizations work with schools as part of a broader educational ecology? We examined this question through a comparative case study of two collaborative efforts whereby informal arts education organizations, a children's museum and a community-based organization, worked with an urban school district to redefine the provision of educational services for children and youth. Grounded conceptually in organizational theory, our study identified factors that enable and constrain collaboration across the formal-informal divide. We argue that examining the dynamics of cross
Twenty-four Learning Labs in libraries and museums across the country are engaging America’s youth in learning settings where they gain skills and following their passions. A new publication, Learning Labs in Libraries and Museums: Transformative Spaces for Teens, describes these innovative teen spaces. The report details the research behind the labs, the practices that support meaningful learning, and the impacts of a movement that grew with support from the Institute of Museum and Library Services and its private partner, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.
This is a handout from the session "Sustaining Current Science Experiences in Science Centers" at the 2014 ASTC Conference held in Raleigh, NC. It contains an overview of the session, which included discussion of embedded partnerships, episodic real science activities, and sustainability strategies.
This is a handout from the session "Making Space for Innovation: Sampling of Making and Tinkering" at the 2014 ASTC Conference held in Raleigh, NC. The session provided an overview of different makerspaces and tinkering programs, including the goals, opportunities, and challenges of the making movement.
This is a handout from the session "NASA in the Community: Diverse solutions to engaging families/educators" at the 2014 ASTC Conference held in Raleigh, NC. It includes presentation slides and related reference materials about NASA-funded informal education projects.
This is a handout from the session "Unique Approaches to Community Engagement – Challenges, Successes, Lessons Learned" at the 2014 ASTC Conference held in Raleigh, NC. The handout includes presentation slides and the central questions discussed by each session contributor.
This is a handout from the session "Introducing your preschool audiences to science and astronomy" at the 2014 ASTC Conference held in Raleigh, NC. The session discussed how the My Sky Tonight project supports informal science educators in engaging young children in the practices of science through astronomy.
This is a handout from the session "High Expectations, High Support: Effective professional development strategies for teens" at the 2014 ASTC Conference held in Raleigh, NC. It includes slides from the presentation which discuss how museums and informal institutions can provide professional development for teenagers.
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TEAM MEMBERS:
Lucy GreenDon WittrockKathy FullerLiz WitlingerJosh KemperJoy Delyria
This is a handout from the session "Creating Successful Partnerships Between Informal and Formal Science Education" at the 2014 ASTC Conference held in Raleigh, NC. The session discussed several models of collaboration between the formal and informal sectors.
This is a handout from the session "Increasing Audience Diversity" at the 2014 ASTC Conference held in Raleigh, NC. The session was broken down into groups by audience age. The handout provides notes for engaging university students and middle and high school aged children.
This is a handout from the session "Dream, Design, Fab! Engaging Youth With Digital Fabrication" at the 2014 ASTC Conference held in Raleigh, NC. The session described the Fab Lab program at the Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago.
This is a handout from the session "Evaluation in Practice: Stories from the front-line" at the 2014 ASTC Conference held in Raleigh, NC. The handout provides brief overviews from each of the three presenting institutions and compiles a list of evaluation resources mentioned in the session.
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TEAM MEMBERS:
Sarah CohnWhitney OwensRachel CarpenterJen Lokey