Presentation on the evaluation of NSF grant DRL-0638977 (Water's Journey through The Everglades) presented at the CAISE Convening on Sustainability Science and Informal Science Education, February 6th, 2012.
Presentation on the evaluation of NSF grant DRL-0917640 (The Energy Project) presented at the CAISE Convening on Sustainability Science and Informal Science Education, February 6th, 2012.
Presentation on NSF grant DRL-0917640 (The Energy Project) presented at the CAISE Convening on Sustainability Science and Informal Science Education, February 6th, 2012.
Presentation on NSF grant DRL-0540418 (""QUEST: Exploring our Natural World"") presented at the CAISE Convening on Organizational Networks, November 17th, 2011."") presented at the CAISE Convening on Organizational Networks, November 17th, 2011.
Presentation on NSF grant DRL-0840333 (""National Science Festival Network"") presented at the CAISE Convening on Organizational Networks, November 17th, 2011."") presented at the CAISE Convening on Organizational Networks, November 17th, 2011.
Presentation on NSF funded Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network (DRL-0940143), presented at the CAISE Convening on Organizational Networks, November 17th, 2011.
Presentation on NSF grant DRL-1010844 (""STAR Library Education Network: A Hands-on Learning Program for Libraries and Their Communities"") presented at the CAISE Convening on Organizational Networks, November 17th, 2011.
This paper reports on comparative study of three ‘good’ public science lectures. Based on the analysis, it presents an explanatory framework composed of four clusters of elements: analogical approach, story, knowledge organisation and judicious selection of content. Of particular interest to ISE practitioners engaging in similar public engagement endeavours is the authors’ suggestion that the highest quality presentations use elements from all four clusters.
In informal learning environments, science experts, explainers, and guides need support in their work to educate the general public in STEM topics. This study surveyed participants and trainers in communications training programs to determine the best methods for achieving such a purpose. The researchers suggest that training programs be practical, authentic and interactive, and provide participants opportunities for feedback.
This paper contributes to a growing body of literature examining ways of supporting teaching and learning of socio-scientific issues (SSIs). Comparing experiences in two schools—one with a monoethnic student population, the other multiethnic—the study finds that both groups of students struggle with meaningful engagement in SSIs.
Focusing on where people find information about issues relevant to civic society, the author of this paper concludes that, in contrast to the Internet and related information technologies, informal science institutions are less impactful on civic science literacy. The implications of his findings are that in the Internet era an informal science institution's in-house presentation of intriguing phenomena may not be sufficient to supporting an engaged scientifically literate citizenry.
The authors of this paper examine a common rhetorical claim that improved STEM education is critical to the economic future of the United States. The first part of the paper points out certain weaknesses in this argument. The second part considers how learning research might be directed to test connections between STEM education and the economy, including with respect to workforce pipeline issues and programs. This paper is addressed to researchers in the learning sciences, but its arguments may also be of interest to educators leading workforce development programs.