Science Learning in Designed Settings

Tag-up discussion on "Informal Learning Environments" - Minutes from the meeting are available via the page below.

Reading: Chapter 5: Science Learning in Designed Settings

Topics/discussion questions:

1. As you read this chapter, what programs came to mind that are good examples of the types of well-designed informal learning environments they discussed?
2. What are we doing well in Spark that is discussed in the chapter?
3. Where do you see room for improvement in the work that we do related to this topic?

Exemplary Programs (there are many out there, so this is list is just a start):

1. The Ocean Hall at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. This exhibition is more like our exhibits than the others listed here, although because of the topic and it's setting in a natural history museum there are a lot of specimens in the hall. The similarities are around how the exhibition follows a well thought out content outline and the mix of hands-on, multimedia, and static content. Here's a review of what this exhibition does well.
2. Nina Simon writes a blog called Museum 2.0. She is also the executive director of the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History - this museum has done some interesting work in the area of visitor participation in exhibits.
3. The Exploratorium is a great example of a museum that's a learning lab where visitors can explore and discover meaning. They are comfortable with visitors coming up with a wrong explanation for how something works, and I'm not sure if/how that mindset fits with our exhibits and programs, but it's interesting to think about.

Additional References:

1. Surrounded by Science: Learning Science in Informal Environments - this book is based on the NRC report entitled Learning Science in Informal Environments: People, Places, and Pursuits (the chapter we're reading comes from this report). This book provides case studies, examples, and probing questions. You can download a PDF copy, and I have a copy of the book that you can borrow.
2. The Participatory Museum by Nina Simon - it's available online, and I have a copy you can borrow.
3. Here's a link to the entire NRC report called Learning Science in Informal Environments: People, Places, and Pursuits. You can download individual chapters or the whole report. I also have a hard copy.