The Hansen Planetarium proposes the creation, writing, and production of a 50-minute star theatre program, Cosmic Catastrophes: A Planet At Risk?, aimed at informally educating over a million individuals regarding the vulnerability of our Earth. The further production of four interactive exhibits is planned to accompany the program. This program will be marketed and distributed at a nominal charge to 250 national planetariums, with 50 additional production packets planned for loan. In this fashion, top-quality, accurate, and timely science education can be guaranteed to a large selection of audiences. Scientific research tells us that catastrophes of global and interplanetary proportions have happened in the past, there is evidence that they could occur in the present, and they pose an imminent danger in the future. The utilization of expert consultants, in conjunction with Hansen Planetarium staff, will insure this program presents the most current information available about these cosmic catastrophes. Its interactive format is designed to stimulate a proactive approach to problem solution on the part of the audience, especially in reference to ecological or environmental issues. The star show format, with its dynamic special effects, will make scientific theories surrounding cosmic catastrophes accessible and excitiong.
This chapter is a selection from the book "The Arts, Education, and Aesthetic Knowing." Should arts education have a more significant place in our schools? An emphatic 'Yes' comes from the editors and other contributors to this provocative volume. They build their case by drawing upon recent developments in cognitive theory and, in particular, upon contemporary thought regarding aesthetic knowing. They contend that aesthetic knowing constitutes a 'special mode of cognition' and they see aesthetic learning as vital to intellectual growth and development. They argue that the arts should
This paper presents research related to labels that assist visitors in interpreting objects in scientific museums. The authors present an overview of the linguistic tendencies of labeling in museums and scientific exhibitions. In addition, initial findings from a study of modified label text will shed light on the impact of variable text. Note: the figures in this paper are in French.
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TEAM MEMBERS:
Julie DesjardinsDaniel JacobiMarie-Sylvie Poli
This paper discusses the the value of interpretive inquiry in examining visitors' reactions to museum environments as well as evaluating visitor outcomes expected by those producing the environments. This paper provides an explanation of interpretive inquiry as well as examples of this methodology in action at the Gibson House Living History Museum, Ontario Science Centre, and the Art Gallery of Ontario.
This paper discusses the Museum Impact and Evaluation Study, a research collaborative originated by the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, and made up of nine museums from across the country. The intent of the study was to reach toward understanding the long-term outcomes of museums visits, focusing on the relationships that develop between visitors and museums and exhibits within museums over time. This overview provides a summation of the project's scope, research process, plan, and current status.
In this paper, researchers from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee discuss some of the advantages as well as challenges of self-directed learning environments such as museums. The authors discuss the methodology and findings from their study of visitor learning style preference and its effect upon learning in an informal setting. This evaluation took place at the "Rain Forest: Exploring Life on Earth" exhibit at the Milwaukee Public Museum.
This paper explains the Interactive Experience Model, which encompasses the actions that the visitor is engaged in during a museum visit. This model is useful for thinking about issues related to museum learning and provides a framework for understanding the totality of the museum experience--a socially, cognitively, kinesthetically, and aesthetically rich experience.
This paper shares innovative evaluation techniques employed by staff at the Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle in Paris to plan, design, launch, and implement its newly renovated Grande Galeries de Zoologie. Their evaluation techniques combined quantitative and qualitative research techniques.
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TEAM MEMBERS:
Jacqueline EidelmanDenis SamsonBernard SchieleMichel Van Praet
This paper shares research findings that explore the link between conceptual understanding, free exploration of hands-on science center exhibits, and Piagetian cognitive developmental levels. Implications on museum exhibits and field trip experiences are examined as well.
This paper presents findings from a label study project at the Franklin Institute Science Museum, part of the Naive Knowledge Research Project, funded by NSF to identify "naive notions" about science, in particular the cause and nature of gravity, and test the power of interactive devices to alter them. The device which prompted this label study was designed to correct the misconception that spinning pulls things in and, more specifically, that the earth's rotation generates its gravitational pull.
This paper discusses the topic of visitor circulation through exhibition spaces. Specifically, this paper cites findings from a visitor tracking study through five traveling exhibits at the Anniston Museum of Natural History. Questions explored include: 1) How much influence does the spatial arrangement of objects within a gallery have on the behavior of visitors?; 2) How much do the characteristics of exhibit objects influence visitor behavior?; and 3) How effective are techniques for increasing visitation to a changing exhibit hall?
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TEAM MEMBERS:
Stephen BitgoodJoe HinesWayne HambergerWilliam Ford
In this paper, researchers from Colorado State University and the Denver Museum of Natural History discuss the topic of attitude persuasion in exhibits. First, they define the concepts attitude, belief and behavior and describe how to appropriately measure these concepts. Second, the researchers discuss how the concepts are related and also how they are related to future behaviors. Third, a technique for designing or improving an exhibit to increase the likelihood of visitor attitude change is explained. Finally, the researchers present an example from a study performed on the "Close to Home"
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TEAM MEMBERS:
Jerome V. D' AgostinoRoss J. LoomisBetsy Webb