Surrounded by Science: Learning Science in Informal Environments

Practitioners in informal science settings--museums, after-school programs, science and technology centers, media enterprises, libraries, aquariums, zoos, and botanical gardens--are interested in finding out what learning looks like, how to measure it, and what they can do to ensure that people of all ages, from different backgrounds and cultures, have a positive learning experience.

Surrounded by Science: Learning Science in Informal Environments, is designed to make that task easier. Based on the National Research Council study, Learning Science in Informal Environments: People, Places, and Pursuits, this book is a tool that provides case studies, illustrative examples, and probing questions for practitioners. In short, this book makes valuable research accessible to those working in informal science: educators, museum professionals, university faculty, youth leaders, media specialists, publishers, broadcast journalists, and many others.

• Front Matter
• 1 Informal Environments for Learning Science
• 2 Science and Science Learning
• 3 Design for Science Learning: Basic Principles
• 4 Learning with and from Others
• 5 Interest and Motivation: Steps Toward Building a Science Identity
• 6 Assessing Learning Outcomes
• 7 Culture, Diversity, and Equity
• 8 Learning Through the Life Span
• 9 Extending and Connecting Opportunities to Learn Science
• Notes
• Acknowledgments
• Photo Credits
• Index
• Biographical Sketches of Authors