This report details the findings from an exploratory research study conducted by the Research and Evaluation Department at the Museum of Science, Boston about this exhibition, which came to be known as Provocative Questions (PQ). This investigation was guided by the following questions: 1. Will visitors engage in socio-scientific argumentation in an un-facilitated exhibit space, and are they aware that they are doing so? 2. How do the un-facilitated exhibits impact visitors’ socio-scientific argumentation skills? For the exploratory research study, visitors were cued to use the exhibits and
Most people visit a science center in order to satisfy specific leisure-related needs; needs which may or may not actually include science learning. Falk proposed that an individual's identity-related motivations provide a useful lens through which to understand adult free-choice science learning in leisure settings. Over a 3-year period the authors collected in-depth data on a random sample of visitors to a large recently opened, hands-on, interactive science center; collecting information on why people visited, what they did within the science center, what they knew about the subject
Roundable discussions at the 2010 ISE Summit focused on the following topics: Intrinsic Motivation, Defining Goals and ""Educate to Innovate"", ISE Evaluation and Research, Sparking the Imagination, Teacher Professional Development in K-8 Schools, Avatar Effect, Art and Science, Diversity, NASA Education and Public Outreach, and Cosmic Serpent. This report synthesizes main discussion pointsof each topic.
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Catherine McEver
resourceresearchProfessional Development, Conferences, and Networks
These conference proceedings summarize work done by the CAISE Inquiry Groups and include presentations from NSF Program Officer Al DeSena and CAISE Co-PI John Falk (Introduction), Falk and Carlos Manjerrez (Infrastructure Inquiry Group), Saskia Traill (Policy Study Inquiry Group), Kevin Crowley (Learning Inquiry Group), and a synthesis and reflection from Sheila Grinell, Bonnie Sachatello-Sawyer, Rob Semper, Julie Johnson, Erik Peterson, Rich Borchelt, Wendy Wheeler, and Kevin Crowley. All meeting documentation was provided by Catherine McEver.
The 2010 ISE Summit opened with remarks from Director Wendy Pollock and NSF Program Officer Al DeSena and included presentations from David Ucko (NSF Influence on Informal Science Education), Tom Kalil (word from the White House), and Bruce Lewenstein (ISE: Who Are We, and How Did We Get Here?). All meeting documentation has been provided by Catherine McEver.
At the request of the National Science Foundation (NSF), CAISE organized a meeting for NSF Informal Science Education (ISE) Program principal investigators (PIs),March 3-5, 2010 in Washington, D.C. The ISE Summit 2010 provided PIs of recent and active NSF ISE grants the opportunity to discuss the state of ISE with other leaders in the field and to get updates on the latest directions in NSF funding. ISE PI Summit 2008 was held at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel and the nearby National Zoo.
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Center for Advancement of Informal Science EducationAl DeSenaTom KalilBruce LewensteinCatherine McEverSheila GrinellBonnie Sachatello-SawyerRob SemperJulie JohnsonErik PetersonRick BorcheltWendy WheelerCatherine McEver
Based on the National Research Council study, Learning Science in Informal Environments: People, Places, and Pursuits, this book is a tool that provides case studies, illustrative examples, and probing questions for practitioners. In short, this book makes valuable research accessible to those working in informal science: educators, museum professionals, university faculty, youth leaders, media specialists, publishers, broadcast journalists, and many others. Practitioners in informal science settings--museums, after-school programs, science and technology centers, media enterprises, libraries
The InformalScience.org web site is a resource for researchers working in the field of informal science and provides access to information linking researchers with one another and to member-contributed resources. Through use of the web site resources such as member projects, publications, and evaluation reports, users have opportunities to develop social and human capital. This report analyzes the value of InformalScience.org in supporting participants in the community as they navigate and advance the changing field of informal science education (ISE) research. In addition, we identify
Goodman Research Group, Inc. (GRG) is serving as the external evaluator of the three-year, NSF-funded Science Festival Alliance (SFA) project with this report summarizing results from the first year of the project. First year data collection was completed in June 2010. It included: Surveys of 1,411 San Diego Science Festival (SDSF) and 1,054 Cambridge Science Festival (CSF) attendees; End-of-year focus groups with each of the festival (SDSF and CSF) team leaders; and An online survey of 11 principal Alliance team members. The report is organized around four key questions: 1. Who participated