In this article, Alan Teller Partner at Teller Madsen, highlights the major points of a forum on exhibition evaluation at the AAM Conference in Chicago. The forum focused on three distinct approaches: the Execellent Judges Framework, Independent Critic's approach, and Summative Evaluation approach. Challenges and opportunities of each approached are discussed and are regarded as tools for museum evaluators.
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TEAM MEMBERS:
Alan Teller
resourceresearchProfessional Development, Conferences, and Networks
In this article, Barbara Berry, student in Museum Studies at John F. Kennedy University, provides a "RFP: Go or No Go?" checklist as a tool to stimulate a discussion amongst museum staff about whether to respond to an RFP. Berry outlines the steps to take to evaluate an RFP and tips for crafting responses and moving forward.
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TEAM MEMBERS:
Barbara Berry
resourceresearchProfessional Development, Conferences, and Networks
In this article, Barbara Punt, Principal of Punt Consulting, outlines ways to write effective Request For Proposals. Punt emphasizes the importance of clearly conveying your request and considering the respondents' point of view.
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TEAM MEMBERS:
Barbara Punt
resourceresearchProfessional Development, Conferences, and Networks
In this article, Dan Bartlett, Curator of Exhibits at Midway Village & Museum Center, explores his experience preparing RFPs (Request for Proposals). Bartlett describes a "rational, formal process" that can guide others as they plan, prepare, and distribute RFPs.
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TEAM MEMBERS:
Dan Bartlett
resourceresearchProfessional Development, Conferences, and Networks
In this article, James Jensen, Director of Project Management at Boston Children's Museum, shares thoughts and advice about the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) and Request for Proposals (RFP) processes. Jensen outlines best practices based on his experience at the Boston Children's Museum and the Connecticut Historical Society Museum.
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TEAM MEMBERS:
James Jensen
resourceresearchProfessional Development, Conferences, and Networks
In this article, Lynne Friman, principal of Envisions Design, Ltd., draws on her experience writing and responding to Request for Proposals (RFPs). Friman presents an outline checklist as well as a list of defined terms to guide you through the process.
Women in Science Scale-Revised (WiSS-R) is a revised version of the original tool - Women in Science Scale (WiSS), a 27-item Likert type scale created by Erb & Smith in 1984. For reference, please see Erb, T. O., & Smith, W. S. (1984). Validation of the Attitude Toward Women in Science Scale for Early Adolescents. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 21, 391–397.
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TEAM MEMBERS:
Steven OwenMary Anne ToepperweinCarolyn MarshallMichael LichtensteinCheryl BlalockYan Liuet al.
What is science for a child? How do children learn about science and how to do science? Drawing on a vast array of work from neuroscience to classroom observation, Taking Science to School provides a comprehensive picture of what we know about teaching and learning science from kindergarten through eighth grade. By looking at a broad range of questions, this book provides a basic foundation for guiding science teaching and supporting students in their learning.
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TEAM MEMBERS:
National Research CouncilRichard DuschlHeidi SchweingruberAndrew Shouse
Goodman Research Group, Inc. (GRG) conducted summative evaluation of the educational resources kit for Forgotten Genius, a program from the PBS television series Lives in Science. Forgotten Genius explored the life of the scientist Percy Julian, an African American chemist who persevered in the face of racism to become one of the great scientists and inventors of the 20th century. GRG's evaluation focused on how public librarians used and assessed the educational resources kit, as well as their suggestions for revising the kit and conducting future science-related library outreach. The
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TEAM MEMBERS:
Marianne McPhersonJennie MurackIrene F GoodmanWGBH
The National Research Council, through its Board on Science Education, will carry out a synthesis study of informal science learning based on a workshop funded by a prior NSF planning grant. The intellectual merit of this project is based on the formation of a committee of experts representative of the diversity of the field who will engage in a fact-finding process on learning science in informal settings, deliberate about the evidence and produce a major report that will be published by the National Academies Press. The study will describe the status of knowledge in the field currently, articulate a common framework for the next generation of research on informal science learning and provide guidance to the community of practice. By presenting what we know about the characteristics of effective informal science learning environments across a range of outcome measures, the study will achieve broader impacts by assisting practitioners, policymakers and researchers in directing their efforts towards realizing the potential of informal science education for advancing public science literacy.
The University of Pittsburgh Center for Learning in Out-of-School Environments (UPCLOSE) proposes to redevelop its web-site, http://www.informalscience.org, which has become the primary online resource for researchers and practitioners dedicated to dissemination and development of knowledge about informal science and learning. The redesigned site will include more multimedia elements, an expanded research database and an improved search function. The site will be expanded by adding a quarterly Informal Learning Research newsletter (with the American Educational Research Association), conference reporting, interview articles, monthly evaluation tools and tips articles, Informal Science in the News clipping service, Research Toolkit and a listserv. It also will include digitized resources of the Visitor Studies Association. This web-site will support the continued creation of a cumulative body of empirical research and improve connections between research and practice. In so doing, it will foster the continued development of a community of practice in informal STEM education. This project will significantly enhance a major element of the infrastructure for this field.
The SPRY Foundation is requesting funding to organize a conference that will include principal investigators from ISE projects and representatives of the Aging Network to identify strategies to engage older adults in infromal lerning. The conference will present and critique existing programs, discuss new and sustainable models, and encourage the development of a network of ISE providers and organizations that serve older adults. Deliverables include a conference report with recommendations, the "Guide to Including Older Adults in Informal Science Education Programs", post-conference publications and presentations at the Association of Science and Technology Centers Annual Conference and the Annual Meeting of the Southeastern Association of Area Agencies in Aging. Addtionaly, pre-conference surveys will inform the planning process for this innovative meeting.