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Project Descriptions

STEPS - ScienceTheater Education Programming System: A Vehicle for Professional Development, Enhancing Professional Identity, and Communicating Science

August 15, 2007 - June 30, 2010 | Media and Technology, Public Programs, Professional Development, Conferences, and Networks
The Space Science Institute is establishing a museum educator/theater network of eight museums around the country, pairing larger with smaller institutions. The Association of Science-Technology Centers and the Astronomical Society of the Pacific also are collaborators. The primary audience is informal science education museum educators; secondary audiences are museum visitors experiencing the to-be-developed programs. The Science Theater Education Programming System (STEPS) is a technology that has been developed by the PI and others. The team will be continuing to expand the capability of the system for this project, and the partnering museums are collaboratively creating an initial set of theater programs on astrobiology, along with a suite of training programs and communication formats for educators. The STEPS technology allows these programs to be delivered both on site and via outreach, depending on the goals of each organization. The intent is to form the core of a community of practice that would enhance the professional capacity and identities of informal educators. The theater program format is positioned as a flexible, low-cost alternative to traveling exhibits, particularly for the smaller institutions. Deliverables include: the establishment of the network, the STEPS system and programs, professional development tutorials and workshops, evaluation of the programs, and a research project and report examining the network as a community of practice and vehicle for strengthening the professional identities of museum educators.

Funders

NSF
Funding Program: ISE/AISL
Award Number: 0714241
Funding Amount: 1863714

TEAM MEMBERS

  • Brad McLain
    Principal Investigator
    Space Science Institute
  • REVISE logo
    Co-Principal Investigator
    Space Science Institute
  • Discipline: Space science
    Audience: General Public | Museum/ISE Professionals
    Environment Type: Media and Technology | Planetarium and Science on a Sphere | Public Programs | Museum and Science Center Programs | Theater Programs | Professional Development, Conferences, and Networks | Resource Centers and Networks

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