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Hi Beryl,

Try the invisible infrastructure:
http://www.exploratorium.edu/IFI/resources/museumeducation/invisibleexecsum.html

It's an oldish survey of the impact of informals on formals, but it still
has some striking statistics, particularly in the area of informals'
contribution to professional development of teachers. For instance,

"Roughly 40 percent of all elementary school teachers who participate in
more than 35 hours of science-focused professional development each year do
so at institutions of informal science education."

An updated study is posted at:
http://www.exploratorium.edu/cils/landscape/index.html


It may take more time than you have, but take a quick look at the research
section of the CILS website (Center for Informal Learning in Schools)
http://www.exploratorium.edu/cils/

Hope you find these helpful and good luck with your writing,

Fred

Fred Stein
Science Educator
Exploratorium Institute for Inquiry
3601 Lyon St.
San Francisco, CA 94123
(415) 561-0332
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