Identifying, Perceiving, and Understanding Sound: What We Learned From Year 1 In-Person Site Visits

In collaboration with TERC and informal learning organizations across the United States, COSI’s Center for Research and Evaluation (CRE) is part of an NSF-funded project, Research to Understand and Inform the Impacts of Ambient and Designed Sound on Informal STEM Learning. Known informally as Sound Travels, the project brings together a collaboration of informal STEM learning (ISL) researchers, designers, and educators to 1) broaden the research foundation for sound design in informal science learning (ISL) experiences, and 2) develop design recommendations for informal learning institutions. Along with other project research partners, CRE is working to address the following research questions over the course of the four-year project:

R1: How are soundscapes used by ISL practitioners?

R2: What are the qualities of soundscapes at different ISL sites?

R3: How do informal learners at ISL sites experience sound? To what extent does sound impact attention attraction, dwell time, and shared learning in these learners?

R4: How do qualities of the soundscape correlate with indicators of learning: attraction, attention maintenance, and shared learning?

As a part of this research, Sound Travels project leaders planned and hosted a two-day, in-person meeting of the extended team. This meeting served as the kickoff for the program and a way for all partners to physically meet and engage. At the same time, the meeting also provided an opportunity for all partners to share experiences focusing on the sounds in the different learning environments of the four project research sites in Columbus, Ohio. The present document describes the processes for and key takeaways from data collected at this gathering. While preliminary, this work reflects some of our progress toward addressing R1 and R2 in the early days of the project.
 

Recommended citation: 

Hayde, D., Heimlich, J.E., Meyer, J.R., Weiss, L., & Timko, G. (2023). Identifying, Perceiving, and Understanding Sound: What We Learned From Year 1 In-Person Site Visits. COSI’s Center for Research and Evaluation. 
 

If you would like to edit a resource, please email us to submit your request.