ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
*****************************************************************************
Based on David's insight and what many of us have speculated over the
years, we need to step back and rethink our role in the education
process. We can justify one short visit as part of a range of
activities to spark curiosity or an interest in science, however, this
notion does suggest that we need to find ways of incorporating the
museum experience into a more long range, more comprehensive impact
strategy. Carefully designed multiple visits could provide more impact
on one's knowledge or learning. Maybe we should rethink the nature of
our fast paced pinball experience for more in-depth (not more boring,
but more in-depth) more regular visits. Have we overbuilt in the
industry and now need to rethink not only the content of science centers
but the entire paradigm of what we represent, what impact we have, the
structure of our schedules and ways to best take advantage of the
incredible infrastructure that our funders have put in place over the
years.
We have been reading about some of our organizations cutting back hours,
days and even months. Although many are putting schools into our
buildings, what other models might we consider to allow our buildings to
thrive all of the time and not just the few hours a week we tend to be
busy.
Think about what assets you have and how they can be used for other
opportunities with students, adults, corporations, universities,
seniors, governments, etc.
I always wanted to explore the use of a science center exhibits in
teaching creative and innovative thinking for corporations. Wouldn't
that be a great way to connect to the community, generate revenue, and
fill our buildings when the kids leave at 2PM.
Does anyone have any other ideas for new models that break away from
what David suggests, that a 3 hour experience doesn't have the lasting
impact we would all like it to have?
Regards,
Stephen Brand
Chief Imagination Officer
The New Enterprise Factory
330-864-1518
[log in to unmask]
-----Original Message-----
From: Informal Science Education Network
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of David Taylor
Sent: Thursday, May 27, 2004 10:53 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Evaluation Suggestions Wanted
ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology
Centers Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
institutions.
*****************************************************************************
I've written about this before... but will put out my point of view once
again...
I have been studying the literature on museum learning over the last 3
years as part of my Ph.D. studies... and there is little or no evidence
that visitors have major changes in their knowledge from a single visit
to the museum... when you try to evaluate changes in people's lives
based on a 30 minute to 3 hour experience it is very difficult to show
long term 'cognitive' learning.
This doesn't mean we are not making an impact on visitors... often we
are giving them real experiences with real things they wouldn't have
anywhere else... we are inspiring them to pay attention to things in
other aspects of life that they have first encountered in the
museum...we are getting them to be museum members so they will not just
have one experience but a series of experiences in the museum that will
build on each other for long term changes in their beliefs and interest
in science.
So, you will be fighting a losing battle to try to tell folks that one
school visit to a museum will make a difference in school test scores,
but you can be quite confident that their museum visit will help support
a series of life long experiences (museums, PBS, news stories, mags,
school experiences) that will build on each other to inspire science
learning.
David
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
David Taylor
AHHA Museum Services
"Now I Understand"
(206) 363-8126
1560 NW Woodbine Way
Seattle, WA 98177
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
http://www.AHHA-MuseumServices.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
``````````````````````````````
> From: Nancy Ali <[log in to unmask]>
> Reply-To: Informal Science Education Network
> <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: Thu, 27 May 2004 15:07:32 -1000
> Subject: Evaluation Suggestions Wanted
>
> Aloha,
> I am trying to establish an evaluation procedure to assess the extent
> to which our outreach programs accomplish our stated goals,
> specifically in terms of student learning. Does anyone have any
> advice or recommendations about how to get a true picture of the
> impact our program had on students? We are interested in both what
> content students learned and how their attitudes changed because of
> our program. This is not intended to evaluate how well the students
> or teacher liked the program. I am mainly considering some type of
> pre/post test that teachers conduct and return to us, but if anyone
> has other ideas I'd be happy to hear them. Also, if anyone has
evaluation samples they are willing to share, that would be great.
> Thanks,
> Nancy
>
> ****************
> Nancy Alima Ali, Science Educator
> Bishop Museum
> 1525 Bernice Street
> Honolulu, HI 96817
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