scholarly journals Are museums places where science and society can really engage in a dialogue? A positive example related to the rubbish emergency in the Campania region

2008 ◽  
Vol 07 (01) ◽  
pp. C03
Author(s):  
Luigi Amodio
Keyword(s):  
Informal Learning ◽  
General Public ◽  
Science And Society ◽  
Italian Region ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Campania Region ◽  
Public Media ◽  
Formal And Informal Learning ◽  
Science Centre ◽  
Science Centres

Science musums and science centres are wonderful places to host, support and mediate the dialogue between science and society. In fact, they are a natural crossroad where scientists, general public, media and insitutions for formal and informal learning meet. During the recent political and health crisis concerning the rubbish treatment in the Italian region of Campania, the science centre "Città della Scienza" has promoted an unusual dialogue between citizens and scientists.

scholarly journals Research-based exhibition development: Illustrating the invisible nanoworld

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Antti Laherto
Keyword(s):  
Informal Learning ◽  
Research Literature ◽  
Informal Learning Environments ◽  
Educational Role ◽  
Scale Models ◽  
Science Centre ◽  
Science Centres ◽  
Nanoscale Science ◽  
Educational Reconstruction

Informal learning environments such as exhibitions in museums and science centres have the potential to promote public engagement in the societally important fields of nanoscience and nanotechnology (NST). This study contributes to research-based development of an NST exhibition by mapping educational, communicational and museographical challenges in illustrating nanoscale science. For the methodological framework, the study employs a previously suggested model based on the Model of Educational Reconstruction. Potential visitors’ perspectives were analysed by reviewing research literature on NST learning, and by interviewing science centre visitors. On the basis of the results, the study suggests strategies for illustrating the nanoscale in an exhibition: ways of supporting visitors’ scale conceptualisation, presenting images and visualisations deliberately, and using scale models and macroscopic analogies. The study examines how the educational role of science centres may be enhanced by informing exhibition development with visitor-oriented research.

scholarly journals Pedagogical considerations when educators and researchers design a controversy-based educational programme in a science centre

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 84-100
Author(s):  
Ingrid Eikeland ◽  
Merethe Frøyland
Keyword(s):  
Educational Programme ◽  
Emotional Engagement ◽  
Science And Society ◽  
Wrong Answer ◽  
Sound Recordings ◽  
Hands On ◽  
Upper Secondary ◽  
Science Centre ◽  
Science Centres

This article reports from a 1,5 yearlong co-design process where mainly one researcher and four science centre educators collaboratively designed a controversy-based educational programme for upper secondary school in a Norwegian science centre. Its aim was to contribute to our understanding of the transition in science centres from embracing neutral, science facts, to invite visitors to discuss and think critically about contemporary issues. The data for this study consists of sound recordings from one group interview, eight workshops and three informal meetings. In the analysis, we identified barriers related to both choosing a controversial issue and choosing pedagogical activities. For example, to address an issue that was both science and society based, and finding ways to engage students in discussion. Based on our findings, we recommend paying special attention to the role of sparking students’ emotional engagement, the aspect of no right or wrong answer, and the balance between hands-on activity and dialogue when designing controversy-based activities in these institutions.

Undergraduate Students Engagement in Formal and Informal Learning: Applying the Community of Inquiry Framework

2021 ◽  
pp. 004723952110625
Author(s):  
Suparna Chatterjee ◽  
Julia Parra
Keyword(s):  
Preservice Teachers ◽  
Educational Technology ◽  
Informal Learning ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Social Presence ◽  
Community Of Inquiry ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Formal And Informal Learning ◽  
Community Of Inquiry Framework ◽  
Technology Course

The purpose of this qualitative case study is to examine the evidence of formal and informal learning of students in an undergraduate educational technology course for preservice teachers. The research question was, “How do undergraduate students in an educational technology course bridge formal and informal learning using Twitter?” The framework for this study was the Community of Inquiry. Directed content analysis was used on data extracted from Twitter. Key findings included, (1) evidence of cognitive, social, and teaching presence for students completing course activities using Twitter, that is, for their formal learning; and that (2) students developed competencies during formal course activities using Twitter that supported cognitive and social presence beyond the course requirements, that is, for their informal learning.

Negotiating the boundaries between the formal and the informal: An experienced teacher's reflective adaptations of informal learning in a keyboard class for at-risk students

2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 309-326 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pamela Costes-Onishi
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Informal Learning ◽  
Student Learning ◽  
At Risk Students ◽  
Experienced Teachers ◽  
Formal And Informal Learning ◽  
Pedagogical Approaches

The objective of this study is to address the important questions raised in literature on the intersections between formal and informal learning. Specifically, this will be discussed within the concept of ‘productive dissonance’ and the pedagogical tensions that arise in the effort of experienced teachers to transition from the formal to the informal. This case study discusses the issues that ensue when strict demarcations between formal and informal are perceived, and demonstrates that the former is vital to the facilitation of the latter. The blurring of formal and informal pedagogical approaches has shown that the concept of ‘critical musicality’ becomes more apparent in student learning and that engagement increases especially among at-risk students.

scholarly journals Someone Like Us: Trades identities and support for work/learning

2011 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-34
Author(s):  
Chris Holland
Keyword(s):  
Informal Learning ◽  
Learning Experiences ◽  
Learning Support ◽  
Family Status ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Formal And Informal Learning ◽  
Emerging Themes ◽  
Language Literacy ◽  
Vocational Learning ◽  
Learning Connections

This paper reflects on specific findings from a 2009 study of on and off-job learning that explored apprentices’ learning experiences, formal and informal learning connections, and implications for language, literacy and numeracy in vocational learning. The study was conducted in the glazing industry in New Zealandi, and as part of that study, apprentice profiles were developed. This discussion focuses on three of those profiles and reflects on two emerging themes. The first theme is employer and apprentice perceptions of the value of apprentices coming from a ‘trades family’. The second theme is the range of inclusions and exclusions, advantages and disadvantages that apprentices experience depending on their ‘trades family’ status in both on and off-job learning. The paper then considers what kind of learning support might help integrate the different identities required within an apprenticeship.

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