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resource research Public Programs
This article describes the mission, approach and success of the New Jersey Academy of Aquatic Sciences' Community and Urban Science Enrichment Program (CAUSE). Through the CAUSE program, local high school students receive training in marine science and biology, and work as mentors for younger students and as educators. This article also points out that an enrichment program to increase visitorship from underrepresented youth is not enough; science centers must utilize Positive Youth Development (PYD) strategies to "lay the foundation" toward individual learning. Key findings from project
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resource research Media and Technology
In this article, Jim Spadaccini, director of Ideum (Corrales, NM), highlights nine free or nearly free internet-based opportunities for museums. Spadaccini provides a brief description, benefits, participants, tips, and costs associated with each web software or service. Examples include blogging, RSS feeds, and photo sharing.
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TEAM MEMBERS: Jim Spadaccini
resource research Public Programs
In this article, Paul Tatter and Kristin Leigh of Explora (Albuquerque, NM), describe museum membership as "a sense of belonging." Tatter and Leigh argue that museum membership should be conceived as a nurtured relationship not as a commodity. Four commitments--participation, trust, acceptance, and respect--guide museum practices including membership and serve to enhance museum visitation and engagement.
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TEAM MEMBERS: Paul Tatter Kristin Leigh
resource research Exhibitions
In this article, Emily O'Hara, education associate and marking assistant, and Beth Krusi, director of marketing and communications, both at the Montshire Museum of Science (Norwich, Vermont), share their perspective on the importance of repeat visitation. O'Hara and Krusi describe how they use evaluation to refine new and existing exhibits to encourage repeat visitation.
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TEAM MEMBERS: Emily O’Hara Beth Krusi
resource research Exhibitions
In this article, twelve museum and exhibit directors of leading institutions in the world share their exhibition philosophy. These individuals describe how they develop exhibits to meet content and learning objectives, how they design exhibits thoughtfully to meet these goals and how they evaluate the success of the exhibits. Museums featured include the Finnish Science Centre (Vantaa), The Wild Center (Tupper Lake, NY), Sciencenter (Ithaca, NY), INSPIRIA Science Center (Norway), Explora (Albuquerque, NM), Montshire Museum of Science (Norwich, Vermont), Phaeno (Germany), CuriOdyssey (San Mateo
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TEAM MEMBERS: Emily Schuster
resource research Public Programs
This article describes the research effort of ASTC and Reach Advisors to explore the motivations and engagement levels of visitors to science museums. The team discovered surprising and telling information about mothers who visit with their children. This article explores the survey methodology, key findings including helpful terms to describe four types of visitors, and conclusions with recommendations.
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TEAM MEMBERS: Susie Wilkening
resource research Exhibitions
In this article, Carlos Plaza, exhibit developer and bilingual communications specialist at the Miami Science Museum, summarizes the museum's general guidelines and strategies for writing and designing bilingual exhibitions. These guidelines address label hierarchy, personnel (translators and editors), interpretation vs. translation, regional variation, and layout and design.
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TEAM MEMBERS: Carlos Plaza
resource research Public Programs
This article describes how some museums are expanding their partnerships with schools and encouraging teachers to view museums as more than field trip destinations. This article describes the benefits of museum schools, citing the advantages of the symbiotic relationship between the museums and schools, the value of inquiry-based learning, and the professional development opportunities for teachers.
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TEAM MEMBERS: Joelle Seligson
resource research Public Programs
In this article, science center and museum professionals, artists, and educators from around the world share their projects, programs, exhibitions, and initiatives that combine science and art.
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TEAM MEMBERS: Emily Schuster
resource research Exhibitions
In this article, Julie Bowen, vice president, content, at TELUS Spark in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, explores the current state of exhibitions in the field and speculates on the future direction of exhibits. Bowen discusses new innovative trends in the field.
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TEAM MEMBERS: Julie Bowen
resource evaluation Informal/Formal Connections
Many scientists and science educators are concerned about the public’s ambiguous relationship with science and this public includes elementary teachers. Like many citizens, too many elementary teachers find science disconnected from everyday life and thinking. Science is a “school” subject − not an important part of everyday life. Some may believe that science conflicts with important personal beliefs they hold about other areas of life such as religion and art. Elementary teachers who feel this disconnection with science will at best approach science teaching as something one does if school
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TEAM MEMBERS: Bill Cobern
resource research Public Programs
This report details the results of the initial CoSTEM inventory of Federal STEM education investments. The report includes detailed information on STEM education investments in order to identify duplication, overlap, and fragmentation in the Federal STEM education portfolio, illustrate distinct characteristics of investments, identify areas of potential synergy across and within agencies, support the sharing of effective STEM education strategies and evaluation techniques, increase awareness of education investments within and across Federal agencies, and support the development of a Federal
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TEAM MEMBERS: The Office of Science and Technology Policy Fast-Track Action Committee