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Joe,

An issue I see with teachers, exhibit developers, and scientists is that the
kind of lessons and exhibits we build untimely reflect what we really
believe (and value) about learning rather than what we say we should value.
If we did an assessment of 50 randomly chosen exhibits in Science Centers,
what percentage would be mostly about manipulating and making interesting
observations,  and then pondering personal questions and manipulating some
variables - and what percentage would be mostly about demonstrations to make
a point or prove what science "knows" - i.e. transferring information so we
can say the correct words (and call this learning)?  My personal experience
has been that institutional decisions often reflect the second model because
many really do not understand the bigger picture of learning and cannot
really value opportunities to ponder the world and get excited about
possibilities and ask questions that may not be answered for years to come.

Also I personally find that, while I am very committed to developing
possibilities for good personal inquiry by students, I often interfere with
student's inquiry by talking or doing too much.
Joe,

Another problem is that many consider inquiry as just messing around with
"soft" science because the results are difficult to measure and even harder
to communicate.  And I would agree that, without some form of guidance,
inquiry often can be of minimal value.   So back to my original question - I
am still trying to get a better handle on what criteria makes an exhibit or
program rank high in both exploratory behavior and in results that reflect
interesting thinking on the part of the visitor (and just how do we define
interesting thinking?).  Some of the responses to date are very helpful and
I will try to summarize them next week.

Thus I do believe that we on the list mostly agree on the science - BUT I
would suspect that we do not agree as much on the science learning and our
beliefs and research behind the learning.  Certainly it is not as important
that we all agree, but as a profession we do have a long way to go and we
need to be asking and researching interesting questions that can help us
advance.

Bill Schmitt, Executive Director & Science Partner
The Science Center of Inquiry (480) 816-6094
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"Creating opportunities for discovery and understanding."

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