Constructivist education theory postulates (Fosnot, 1996; Hein, 1998) that visitors learn actively and create their own meanings as they interact with the world. This raises challenges for visitor studies, since it may be difficult to plan a reasonable evaluation strategy for exhibitions if visitors’ actions and outcomes cannot be determined in advance. Constructivist theory also requires an appropriate evaluation approach (Hein, 1997). This paper illustrates the use of a combination of methodologies that allow visitors’ meanings and activities to emerge as they visit an interactive, non
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TEAM MEMBERS:
Elsa BaileyKerry BronnenkantJudith KelleyGeorge HeinMuseum of Science, Boston
With funding from the National Science Foundation, NOVA/WGBH Boston with the participation of 14 U.S. and 4 international science museums have produced an IMAX/OMNIMAX film titled, Special Effects. The 40-minute film shows the techniques and methods that special effects filmmakers use along with their understanding of the human visual system to create movie illusions. Multimedia Research implemented a summative evaluation focused on the following major outcomes: To what extent did the program appeal to adult viewers? To what extent did the program achieve its intended viewing goals? What
With funding from the National Science Foundation, NOVA/WGBH Boston with the participation of 14 U.S. and 4 international science museums have produced an IMAX/OMNIMAX film titled, Special Effects. The 40-minute film shows the techniques and methods that special effects filmmakers use to create movie illusions. Multimedia Research implemented a summative evaluation with students focused on the following major outcomes: To what extent did the program appeal to student viewers? To what extent did the program achieve its intended viewing goals? Did the implementation of school-based activities
Earth & Sky is a 90 second radio science series about environmental sciences, earth sciences and astronomy. Multimedia Research implemented a summative evaluation of the series, utilizing a survey mailed to respondents to a radio contest held just prior to the broadcast of Earth & Sky in eight commercial radio markets. A total of 152 surveys were returned (43% return rate). The survey is in the report Appendix. The series makes science accessible and interesting to the listening audience and generates excitement about science. The programs were perceived as affecting listeners'
In this article, Lynn D. Dierking of Science Learning, inc. (SLi) discusses the summative evaluation of the Pacific Science Center's Science Carnival Consortium Project, a National Science Foundation funded program designed to assist new or developing science centers with opening and operating their institutions. The evaluation was designed to determine the extent to which the Science Carnival Consortium fulfilled its primary mission of facilitating the creation of these new science centers, as well as to assess the relative efficacy of the project as a model for future collaborative endeavors
This Handbook is geared to the experienced researcher who is a novice evaluator. It orients the researcher to evaluation practice, with an emphasis on the use of qualitative techniques to augment quantitative measures.
This report presents findings from a summative evaluation of Electric Space, a traveling exhibition developed by the Space Science Institute, with major funding provided by the Informal Science Education Program of the National Science Foundation. This study is the third phase of evaluation conducted by Randi Korn & Associates in association with this project. After performing both front-end and formative evaluations during the exhibition development process, this summative study was conducted on the completed traveling version of Electric Space at two host sites. This final study was
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Randi Korn & Associates, Inc.Space Science Institute
This report presents findings from an extensive summative evaluation of the Breaking Ground project (BG) conducted for both the Brooklyn Botanic Garden (BBG) and the Brooklyn Children's Museum (BCM). Breaking Ground is a collaborative project established between BBG and BCM. The products of the overall project include three exhibits (two at BBG and one at BCM) and a series of educational programs. Specifically, the project components are: the Amazing Plants exhibition and the Discovery Garden at BBG, the Plants & People exhibition at BCM, and Discovery Carts, along with the City Plant
The Please Touch Museum is requesting $684,602 for the development of educational resource materials in science and mathematics for four-year old children, and training for their parents and teachers in Head Start and other daycare programs. This 44 month project will develop, test, and produce six materials-based science and math activity kits, science training workshops for parents and daycare educators, and related family materials and events. It will culminate in a national dissemination program to promote more effective preschool science and math education through materials- based science inquiry and increased professional relations between educators in youth museums and daycare centers.
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TEAM MEMBERS:
Marzy SykesRenee HenryTracey Prendergast
Green City Data is an after-school community service project. Teams of secondary students are trained to inventory urban natural areas selected by regional resource planning agencies to supplement their own data collection efforts. Representatives from seven agencies and educational institutions initiated this project to support development of a system of greenspaces within the Portland, Oregon/Vancouver, Washington metropolitan area. This consortium includes expertise in resource management, geography, biology, computer telecommunications, science education and community coordination. These and other community professionals tech students and volunteer team leaders (teachers or other adults) the basics of habitat identification and mapping in the context of regional planning. ***
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TEAM MEMBERS:
Gail WhitneyMichael HouckJames GillenJoseph PoracskyEllen Lanier-Phelps
The Exploratorium is developing a model program that demonstrates the vital role science museum exhibits can play in supporting formal science education reform. The development of exhibitions and enhancement activities is based on the Science Framework for California Public Schools and the emerging National Science Education Standards. The project includes: A series of four museum exhibitions (with a total of 60 exhibits) based on the Science Framework themes of Patterns of Change, Stability, Scale and Structure, and Systems and Interactions Publications (Exhibit Guides and Pathways) for each collection A series of workshops and evening events for teachers, families and students A symposium, video and Internet resource for museum and education professionals An important feature is an information desk and resource kiosk to inform teachers, parents and the general public about science education reform efforts. The project aims at 5,000 teachers, 32,000 parents and caregivers, 140,000 students and 1,320,000 members of the general public.
The American Society for Microbiology (ASM), in association with Baker & Simon Associates, The National Association of Biology Teachers, and Oregon Public Broadcasting is developing a comprehension educational project to inform the public about the microbial world and the pivotal roles that microorganism play in the life of the planet. The project components will consist of: Four One Hour Prime Time Television Programs Curriculum Guide Community Microbial Activity Guides Community Dissemination Library Exhibition Companion Trade Book World Wide Web Home Page The Principal Investigator will be Cynthia A. Needham, Associate Professor of Microbiology at Boston University School of Medicine and Adjunct Professor of Microbiology and Molecular Biology at Tufts University School of Medicine. She is a Fellow in the American Academy of Microbiology. The Executive Producer for the television series is Peter Baker who recently headed production of The Astronomers and has produced numerous television series for PBS and for the BBC. Barry Marrs of Recombinant BioCatallysis, Inc., and former Director of Life Sciences for Central Research and Development of the E.I. duPont de Nemours and Company will be the Science Advisory Team Leader and will be the liaison between the Science Advisory Panel and the production staff. The advisory committee will consist of: Rita Colwell, President, University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute Yolonda George, Deputy director, Education and Human Resources Programs, AAAS Alice Huang, Dean for Science and Professor of Biology at New York University Holger Jannasch, Senior Scientist at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute Mary Lindstrom, Professor, University of Washington David Pramer, Assoc. Vice President for Research at Rutgers Moselio Schaechter, Professor of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Tufts University Steve Morse, Assistant Professor of Biology at Rockefeller University Henry William s, Vice President for Research, University of Maryland Graduate School, Baltimore Ralph Wolfe, Professor of Microbiology, University of Illinois Bonnie Van Dorn, Executive Director, Association of Science-Technology Centers.
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TEAM MEMBERS:
Cynthia NeedhamWayne CarleyBarbara Flagg