This pathways project from Boston College will test the efficacy of an intergenerational interdisciplinary hydroponics program involving curriculum development and activities at the Salvation Army's Kroc Center and the STEM Garden Institute for 4-6th grade youths and seniors. The primary research includes an examination of the efficacy of intergenerational interdisciplinary community based research. Additional goals of the hydroponic program include the examination of the ways in which urban community-based hydroponic programs foster motivation and self-efficacy, and how well youths and seniors understand the scientific inquiry process involving technology, economics and plant production. The research design includes qualitative and quantitative methods. The project will evaluate the ways in which the instructors implement the program with youth and seniors. The project will also evaluate the effectiveness of the technologies associated with plant production and knowledge acquisition in the area of hydroponics from the development through the delivery of the plant products to sell at the local Farmer's Market. Interviews, focus groups and survey will be administered to seniors and youth throughout the project. The project will disseminate a science inquiry based instructional guide for informal providers and youth who are involved with informal science education programs. The guide will focus on hydroponics with an emphasis on the electromagnetic spectrum, photosynthesis, pH, and nutrients, and electrical conductivity science concepts. More than 120-150 youth and 200 seniors will participate in the hydroponics program. Additional materials on the development of economic and business planning will be developed for the use of planning and setting up a Farmer's Market retail business. The materials will be available through the Salvation Army's Kroc Center. The Kroc Center averages 500-1000 visitors per day in addition to the Center's website, which averages 1200 unique visits per day.
The Science Source Pathways Project will conduct initial work designing and testing a new model for providing news on STEM related topics to the rural and Native American communities in Montana. This project will enhance understanding of how the communication of scientific research reaches and impacts underrepresented audiences. A collaborative model will be developed between the environmental journalism program at the University of Montana and various local television, radio, and online media outlets that are either operated by or reach Native Americans on reservations and throughout the state. Project deliverables include a survey and analysis of current science reporting reaching this audience; and production and testing of prototype science news stories for dissemination on various platforms (print, radio, TV, web). The development of science news pieces will be led by graduate students in the School of Journalism under the careful guidance and mentorship of experienced professors. This project will enhance the communication and amount of STEM content delivered to underserved groups, and provide diverse opportunities for them to engage in STEM related environmental issues that affect their local communities.
This report outlines the proceedings of the 2011 conference called "Art as a Way of Knowing" hosted by the Exploratorium. The purpose of the conference was to gather a broad range of artists, scientists, and educators to explore the history, practice, and value of the arts as a means of inquiring into the natural world. The conference brought together some 125 leading international thinkers— representing work in education, art and science museums, contemporary art, and interdisciplinary research. In particular, conference participants explored art practice in relation to the field of public
This paper was prepared for the symposium, "Learning Science in Out-of-School Time: Research Directions," presented at the 2011 annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, New Orleans. The authors discuss research efforts related to the nature of afterschool science offerings in publicly funded afterschool programs for elementary school students in California and the sources of support for science programming and afterschool staff development. Findings from the Afterschool Science Network (ASN) are outlined.
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TEAM MEMBERS:
Barbara MeansAnn HouseCarlin Llorente
This report outlines the proceedings of a March 2011 meeting at the Exploratorium, hosted by the Center for Informal Learning and Schools. A distinguished group of learning scholars and practitioners came together to consider ways that informal science learning institutions – museums, science centers, aquaria, etc. – might engage the general visiting public with learning as a social, cultural, and scientific phenomenon. In particular, they attempted to identify how interactive exhibits and programs could engage visitors with a wide range of learning phenomena, such as mimicry, attention
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Center for Informal Learning and Schools
In this paper, David A. Ucko, President of Museums + more LLC, discusses the impact of NSF's Public Understanding of Science (PUOS) and Informal Science Education (ISE) programs on the field of informal science education. Ucko discusses recent efforts to develop the field through advancing knowledge and practice and building capacity. This paper is based on a paper presented at the 83rd Annual International Conference of the National Association for Research in Science Teaching, Philadelphia, PA, March 22, 2010.
A June 2010 report from the Exploratorium's Learning and Youth Research and Evaluation Center (LYREC) highlights trends, questions, and findings related to out-of-school-time science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (OST STEM). Based on an October 2009 meeting, the report aims "to inform the work of OST educators, researchers, and funders." The report notes that "out-of-school-time programs such as summer camps,afterschool programs and Saturday classes provide students with important opportunities to: (1) spark, sustain, and deepen their interest in science, technology, engineering
This PDF contains the proceedings of the 2012 conference, Public Works for Public Learning. The conference reviewed the efforts of the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District and their NSF-funded project to promote lifelong learning in a wide variety of informal settings such as the Golden Gate Bridge visitor area. Conference topics focused on how existing structures can be used to develop fun and effective exhibits to educate the public on STEM topics.
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Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District
The Citizen Science Toolkit is a compilation of resources and ideas, currently organized under a step-wise framework for project development. Steps include choosing a question, forming a team, refining protocols, recruiting participants, training participants, accepting data, analyzing data, disseminating results, and measuring effects.
The Adirondack All-Taxa Biodiversity Inventory is a biological information-gathering process dependent upon and supported by the citizens of the Adirondacks. It acknowledges the interdependence between stakeholders and the biological community within which they live, work, and recreate. Citizens and scientists from the Adirondacks and elsewhere are working together to learn about the biodiversity found in the largest wilderness in the continental USA. The Adirondack ATBI encompasses the entire six-million-acre Adirondack Park, about half of which is composed of public Forest Preserve land that is protected as “forever wild” by the New York State Constitution. The remaining three million acres within the Park are composed of private forests, farms, and about 100 human communities, where some 130,000 people live, either seasonally or year-round.
Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA) is a user-friendly web site and database that shares butterfly and moth species information with the public via dynamic maps, checklists, and species pages. BAMONA data are updated regularly and come from a variety of sources, including citizen scientists. Individuals can get involved by documenting butterflies and moths in their neighborhoods and submitting photographs for review. Collaborating lepidopterists serve as coordinators and oversee quality control. Submitted data are verified, added to the database, and then made available through the web site.
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Butterfly and Moth Information NetworkKelly LottsThomas Naberhaus
resourceresearchProfessional Development, Conferences, and Networks
These opening remarks took place at the start of the Citizen Science Toolkit Conference, held at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in Ithaca, New York on June 20-23, 2007.