Seeing the World Like a Meteorologist: Professional Vision in Informal Science Learning

• In Event: AERA Poster Session 13
  In Poster Session: New Directions in Informal Learning Environments Research: Families, Communities, and Careers

Abstract

Our study examines how meteorologists’ professional vision can be communicated to families in informal science learning settings. We investigated the interactions between meteorologists and 27 consented families’ (26 adults and 33 children) across 5 weather workshops held at libraries and museums. Data included 11 hours of video and audio recordings, photographs and children’s weather journals. We followed interaction analysis to create multimodal event maps showing the interactions among STEM professionals, parents, and children in each workshop. Findings show that STEM professionals engaged families in weather observational practices through using tools such as thermometer and barometer, gesture, and personal narratives. STEM experts’ professional vision was better articulated to children with families who had prior experience and knowledge.

Authors

• Yu-Chen Chiu, The Pennsylvania State University

• Susan M. Land, The Pennsylvania State University