This research study was designed to explore and document the current “landscape” of the informal science education community. The authors outline the theoretical framework used to approach their research, research goals and design, methods, results, and conclusions and recommendations. Based on the authors' preliminary and exploratory investigation, they argue that currently the ISE community does not function as an effective community of practice. However, many of the pieces that are necessary for ISE to become a true community of practice are currently in place. The report raises the
During the spring of 2006, American Institutes for Research (AIR) conducted an evaluation study on behalf of WGBH. The purpose of the study was to gather data related to the effectiveness of the FETCH! Activity Guide, which was designed to extend the teachings of a new children's show, "FETCH! with Ruff Ruffman. The four main study objectives were to: Assess the activities' appeal for children (for example, do children enjoy the activities, do they realize they are learning about science, etc.?) Assess whether the facilitators liked the Activity Guide and deemed it appropriate for their after
This report summarizes the evaluation of the first 20 months of the National Science Foundation-funded tour of the Traveling Experiment Gallery. The Traveling Experiment Gallery is the touring version of Science Museum of Minnesota's successful core science hall, the Experiment Gallery. The evaluation of the Traveling Experiment Gallery was conducted using naturalistic inquiry methodology. Depth interviews were conducted with 28 staff and six volunteers at the five museums and science centers which have hosted the exhibition. The evaluators also spent almost 30 hours observing visitors, floor
Agents of Change is a $40 million initiative that will transform more than 25% of the Ontario Science Centre's public spaces over a three-year period. This will involve renewing key exhibit spaces, creating new approaches to visitor experiences, deepening and extending partnerships province-wide, and making significant architectural improvements to the science centre's building. Seven major new areas will feature content that explores the theme "Solving 21st Century Problems." Through the compelling experiences offered in these seven new spaces, young people will be exposed to the attitudes
Concept planning studies ("front-end" studies) are useful in finding out "where the audience is starting from" in their perceptions of particular subjects, themes or messages to be communicated in upcoming exhibitions. In this case, the exhibition team needed some clarifications about visitors' awareness, interests, and other perceptions of 'current science.' The priorities for this research were focused on: name and recognition of the topic (explore people's reactions to 10 preliminary "titles;" seek examples of topics that they associate with new/current science) interest in current science
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TEAM MEMBERS:
Jeff HaywardScience Museum of MinnesotaJolene Hart
Goodman Research Group, Inc. (GRG), an evaluation research firm specializing in the evaluation of educational programs, services, and materials, is conducting an evaluation of PEEP and the Big Wide World (PEEP). The primary focus of the evaluation is to assess PEEP's appeal and the extent to which the various components of PEEP (e.g., television series, Web site, and educators' print guide) contribute to encouraging children ages 3-5 years to engage in hands-on science explorations of their everyday environments. GRG employed several data collection methods to assess PEEP, including a children
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TEAM MEMBERS:
Jennifer BeckWGBH-TV BostonJennie MurackIrene F Goodman
In 2005, WGBH began production of a new television series for children called FETCH. FETCH is a competition-based game/reality show for 6-10 year-old children that includes both animation and live action footage. The show is hosted by a cartoon dog named Ruff Ruffman. FETCH is scheduled to begin airing on PBS in May of 2006. In December 2005, WGBH contracted Goodman Research Group, Inc. (GRG), a research firm specializing in the evaluation of educational programs, materials, and services, to conduct an early summative evaluation of the series. Because Season One was still in production, a
In the Spring of 2003, Rockman et al conducted an evaluation that was designed to explore children's viewing behavior, outcomes of viewing, the impact of the program's structural features, viewers' content preferences, and factors that motivate greater participation by viewers. Nearly six hundred children and twenty-five adults in three major U.S. cities participated in this study. Evaluation activities included: Five sets of student surveys: one administered prior to viewing episodes of DragonflyTV, one following each of the three programs viewed as part of the evaluation, and one
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TEAM MEMBERS:
Rockman, et. al.Twin Cities Public TelevisionJennifer Borland
This study is the first phase of a two-part summative evaluation of a National Science Foundation-funded research/development project to investigate the development of exhibits that elicit active prolonged engagement (APE) among casual museum visitors. Naturalistic methodology was used to frame the research. Methods included unobtrusive observations, depth interviews, and tracking-and-timing. Forty-six unobtrusive observations and 35 related depth interviews were conducted on site at the Exploratorium from August 5 through 10, 2003. After all observations/interviews had been completed
Going APE! is a National Science Foundation-funded research/development project to investigate how to develop Exploratorium exhibits that elicit active prolonged engagement (APE) among casual museum visitors. As part of this research/development process, Selinda Research Associates, Inc. (SRA) conducted a summative evaluation to assess how and to what extent the exhibit units developed by the Exploratorium team were in fact APE exhibits. This report is the second of two distinct phases of the summative evaluation study. The first phase of the summative evaluation compared visitor engagement at
In 2005, WGBH began production of a new science television series for children called FETCH. FETCH is a competition-based game/reality show for 6-10 year old children that consists of both animation and live action footage. The show is hosted by a cartoon dog named Ruff Ruffman. Each week Ruff assigns competitors from a cast of real kids to leave the studio and go out into the world and complete challenges. There are typically two challenges assigned in each show. One challenge per episode requires its contestants to learn about and understand science concepts and to use scientific process
Explore It! Science Investigations in Out-of-School Programs, funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), was a collaboration among the Center for Science Education at the Education Development Center (EDC), six science and children museums, after-school centers across the United States, and the National Institute for Out-of-School Time (NIOST). The project primary goals were to develop and implement hands-on, inquiry-based units of activities for out-of-school programs for children ages 8-12 and to develop a support structure for after-school or out-of-school programs with science
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TEAM MEMBERS:
Patricia CampbellEducation Development CenterRosa Carson