The Fresno Metropolitan Museum (FFM) contracted with Wendy Meluch of Visitor Studies Services to design and conduct an evaluation of its Inquiry Workshop (workshop) which took place in April of 2005. All workshop participants completed Pre- and Post-workshop Surveys (13 and 12 respectively). Nine teachers also participated in a follow-up focus group in June of 2005. By all measures, the Fresno Metropolitan Museum's Inquiry Workshop is resounding success for participating teachers. They become energized about teaching and credit the workshop with making them better teachers across the board
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Wendy MeluchFresno Metropolitan Museum
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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Rockman, et. al.Twin Cities Public TelevisionJennifer Borland
This report presents the findings of a summative evaluation of The Search for Life conducted by Randi Korn & Associates, Inc. (RK&A), for The New York Hall of Science (NY Hall) in Queens, New York. The Search for Life was developed by NY Hall staff and funded by the National Science Foundation, NASA and NASA Astrobiology Institute, New York City Department of Cultural Affairs with funds from the Office of the Mayor, Institute for Library Services, Anonymous and Wyeth. Data collection took place in October 2005.
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Randi Korn & Associates, Inc.New York Hall of Science
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
The Monarch Butterfly Larval Monitoring project is a collaborative Citizen Science Project in which informal science education (ISE) institutions participate in research to measure the distribution and abundance of monarch butterfly larvae throughout the US, addressing the lack of knowledge about the breeding phase of the annual cycle. This project seeks to create links among ISE institutions (nature centers, museums, state and national parks, and environmental learning centers) from across the US, and also between these institutions and university scientists, citizens, and K-12 educators. The
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Carol FreemanUniversity of Minnesota
In the Fall/Winter of 2002/3, RMC Research Corporation (RMC) conducted a summative evaluation of The Human Body film and outreach materials, including lobby exhibit, Teacher's Resource Guide, and Web site. These were the culminating activities in a series of studies conducted over the past three years related to The Human Body project, including formative evaluations of the film and each of the outreach components. These summative evaluations were designed to determine the overall effect on audiences of the finished products. This report contains sections relating to the major elements of The
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Alice ApleyMaryland Science CenterRalph AdlerWendy GrahamLaura Winn
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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Patricia CampbellEducation Development CenterRosa Carson
In June 2002,the Cornell Lab of Ornithology Visitor Center (CLO-VC) opened in the new Imogene Powers Johnson Center for Birds and Biodiversity. The CLO-VC is located in theSapsucker Woods Sanctuary of Ithaca,New York. Surrounded by trails for bird watchers of all levels,the CLO-VC contains exhibits designed to enhance knowledge of birds and bird biology,and encourage participation in its Citizen Science Program. Sapsucker Woods Pond and the Treman Bird Feeding Garden are visible through walls of windows in the Morgens Observatory part of the Visitor Center.The building,pond, garden,and trails
This is a summative evaluation of four exhibit areas: Tot Spot, Outdoor Tot Spot, Lookout Cove and Wave Workshop. All sections were developed with a grant from the National Science Foundation and are themed to "My Place By the Bay."
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Minda BorunRose KellyBay Area Discovery Museum
This report presents the findings of a summative evaluation of Dynamic Earth, conducted by Randi Korn & Associates, Inc. (RK&A), for the Newark Museum in Newark, New Jersey. Data collection took place in April and May 2003. The evaluation documents the scope of the exhibition's impact and effectiveness via timing and tracking observations and exit interviews.
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Randi Korn & Associates, Inc.Newark Museum
This report presents findings from a comprehensive summative evaluation conducted by Randi Korn & Associates, Inc. (RK&A), of Exploring Life on Earth, a National Science Foundation funded exhibition developed by the Milwaukee Public Museum (MPM). The evaluation documents the effectiveness of the exhibition and provides recommendations for remediation. Data were collected from May to August 2002 and include in-depth interviews, group discussions, timing and tracking observations, self-reported path identifications, and focused observations and interviews.
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Randi Korn & Associates, Inc.Milwaukee Public Museum