THE STATUS OF RESEARCH ON LEARNING SCIENCE WITHIN INFORMAL EDUCATION SETTINGS KECK ROOM 100 500 FIFTH STREET, NW WASHINGTON, DC MEETING AGENDA MAY 13, 2005
8:00-8:30 am		Continental breakfast
8:30-8:45 am		Welcome and Overview of the Day Jean Moon, Director, Board on Science Education, National Research Council (NRC) Alan Friedman, Director, New York Hall of Science National Science Foundation Perspective David Ucko, Head, Science Literacy, EHR/ESIE, National Science Foundation
8:45-9:15 am		What Do We Think We Know about Learning in Informal Settings? Panel Discussion: This discussion focuses upon the issues raised in the papers by 1) John Falk, Lynn Dierking, & Martin Storksdieck (A Review of Research on Lifelong Science Learning) and 2) Kevin Crowley (Building a Practical Theory for Informal Science from the Ground Up). Each panelist has been asked to provide 10 minutes of prepared remarks, drawing on their own experiences in reflecting on the papers. The following questions were provided to help panelists frame their remarks: · How do these two papers address the uniqueness of the informal learning environment as a learning environment and the need for its own research-based theoretical frameworks? · What are the differences and similarities between the two papers in terms of identifying the critical questions that are guiding research activities? · What critical issues are raised with respect to who is doing the research and where is it being done (both in terms of institutions—academia, science centers, etc.—and in terms of disciplines—education, cognitive psychology, natural sciences, etc.)? · Are there critical perspectives or issues that have been missed by the Falk et al. and Crowley papers? Panel Members: Kirsten Ellenbogen, Director of Evaluation and Research in Learning, Science Museum of Minnesota Dennis Schatz, Vice President for Education, Pacific Science Center Sally Duensing, Visiting Professor in the Department of Education and Professional Studies, King's College London
9:15-9:45 am		General Discussion
9:45-10:00 am		Rapporteur Remarks Marsha Semmel, Director of Strategic Partnerships, Institute of Museum and Library Services
10:00-10:15 am		Break
10:15-10:45 am		What Do Practitioners Want to Know? Panel Discussion: This discussion focuses upon the issues raised in the papers by 1) Kathleen McLean (Research Questions of Informal Learning Practitioners: A Seriously Informal Survey) and 2) Susan Stocklmayer (Public Awareness of Science and Informal Learning—A Perspective on the Role of Science Museums). Each panelist has been asked to provide 10 minutes of prepared remarks, drawing on their own experiences in reflecting on the papers. The following questions were provided to help panelists frame their remarks: · What do practitioners want to know from the research, i.e., what are the research questions they want answered? · How do they use the research-based information gathered? · Do we have evidence of research informing practice within informal environments? What are some promising examples? Panel Members: Sue Allen, Director of Visitor Research and Evaluation, The Exploratorium Rick Bonney, Director of Program Development & Evaluation, Cornell Lab of Ornithology Mary Ellen Munley, President, Visitor Studies Association
10:45-11:15 am		General Discussion
11:15-11:30 am		Rapporteur Remarks David Ucko, National Science Foundation
11:30-11:45 am		Reflections on Morning Discussions Alan Friedman, New York Hall of Science
11:45 am -12:30 pm		Lunch
12:30-1:00 pm		A Research Synthesis – Brief Overview of the NRC Study Process Jean Moon, Director, Board on Science Education, NRC Kevin Crowley, Director of the Center for Learning in Out-of-School Environments and Associate Professor of Education, University of Pittsburgh Leona Schauble, Professor of Education, Vanderbilt University
1:00-1:50 pm		Small Group Discussions Each team is asked to brainstorm three questions that would guide an NRC synthesis study on the status of research about the learning of science that takes place in informal settings. Please include your rationale for each question—What makes this a critical question for the proposed study? Who did you consider to be the audience(s)? Rooms 100, 104, 106, 207, and 211 are available for use by groups.
1:50-2:00 pm		Break
2:00-2:45 pm		Reporting Out by Small Groups Identifying major themes or areas of emphasis, audience, and possible guiding questions
2:45-3:15 pm		Walkabout and Final Review Determining possible guiding questions for synthesis study Please use your three colored dots to vote for the questions that you feel are of highest priority. Place a colored dot next to each of your selections on the flipchart papers around the room.
3:15-3:30 pm		Synthesis of the Day and Next Steps Alan Friedman Jean Moon
3:45-5:00 pm		Tour of the National Academies’ Marian Koshland Science Museum Patrice Legro, Director