ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
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The Visitor Studies Association, in collaboration with the Smithsonian 
Center for Education and Museum Studies, is proud to announce three 
outstanding half-day regional workshops in Washington, DC.  Workshops 
will be held on Friday, September 17, 2010, in the Smithsonian Capital 
Gallery building at 600 Maryland Ave SW, Washington, DC, 20024.

*How to Register*

Registration will be open from September 1st to September 13th, until 
5:00pm.  Space in each workshop is extremely limited, so registrations 
will be accepted on a first come first served basis.

Register online or print & fax the registration form at: 
http://visitorstudies.org/workshops/upcoming-workshops

*Workshop Descriptions*

*Workshop Title:* Engaging All in Science: Considering Diversity Through 
the Lens of Gender.
*Presenter: *      Dale McCreedy, Director, Gender & Family Learning 
Programs at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia
*Time: *9:00am-12:00pm
*Where:* Capital Gallery  1st Floor, Suite 105W -Conference Room 1004A

This half day session will focus on considerations of diversity -- what 
does it mean, what does this look like, and how might one address issues 
of diversity.  While the primary focus will draw on issues of gender, 
there will be obvious connections to diversity more broadly, and the 
identification of perspectives personally and institutionally.  This 
session will draw gender literature as well as identity development, 
utilize the NRC publication, Learning Science in Informal Environments:  
People, Places and Pursuits; and share some of the key findings. 
Participants will engage in activities that highlight the ways in which 
personal and/or institutional cultures shape perspectives and expectations.

*Workshop Title:* Understanding and Designing Evaluation
*Presenter: *  Jessica Luke, Director of Research and Evaluation, 
Institute for Learning Innovation
*Time:* 1:30pm-4:30pm
*Where: * Capital Gallery  7th Floor, National Museum of African 
American History and Culture -Conference Room 7001

This half-day workshop will introduce the process of understanding,  
consuming and designing well-conceptualized evaluation studies for  
education programs and exhibits. Issues to be addressed include  
existing literature, theory, or conceptual frameworks used in  
evaluation; developing meaningful evaluation questions or issues to  
drive an education project; reviewing appropriate methods and audience 
samples for specific projects; and making practical use of evaluation 
results and reports. Facilitators will share concrete examples of both 
successful and problematic evaluation plans they have developed.  
Participants will be encouraged to bring an evaluation topic or  project 
to the workshop in order to gain practical experience in designing a 
study from idea to implementation.


*Workshop Title:* Programs Outside the Institutional Walls: An 
Educator's Perspective and Role in Understanding Program Impact
*Presenter: *    Dale McCreedy, Director, Gender & Family Learning 
Programs at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia
*Time:* 1:30pm-4:30pm
*Where: *Capital Gallery  1st Floor, Suite 105W -Conference Room 1004A

This half-day workshop will provide an overview of the critical role 
educators can play in the process of evaluation, and in assessing the 
impact of programs offered outside the walls of our institutions.  The 
challenges and benefits of reaching such audiences, whether through 
neighborhood associations, youth groups, or clubs, will be addressed 
along with the potential for long-term impact.  As educators trying to 
understand our impact, we need to consider what we want to know, need to 
know for funder, how we will use this information, and what we expect to 
eventually wonder about. Examples will be drawn from the presenter's 
experience leading and shaping the evaluation of several unique 
initiatives.  All reflect attempts to meaningfully document a program's 
cultivation of collaborative learning -- among peers and children with 
adults -- and promoting learning and achievement more broadly among 
children, adults and families.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Sincerely,

Erik Ledbetter

_________________________________

Erik Ledbetter
Executive Director
Visitor Studies Association
PO Box 10668
Rockville, MD 20849-0668
v. 301 762.1450
[log in to unmask]
www.visitorstudies.org
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