Practices and Associated Strategies to Inform Facilitation of Visitor-Centered Learning in Informal Science Education

• In Event: Museum Experiences Through the Eyes of Visitors and Staff

Abstract

Training museum floor staff to effectively facilitate visitor learning experiences is complex. Yet, little is understood about what such training should include and how it should be delivered, especially if the training is to be useful across multiple contexts. Many informal education institutions currently offer training for floor staff, but these training programs vary greatly and often consist of only observation or shadowing of existing facilitators. To develop a model for facilitator training, we conducted a study to identify practices and associated strategies valued by experts in the informal science education field. These practices can inform future professional development and training programs. This paper discusses the first two rounds of the three-round delphi study and the goals for round three.

Authors

• Alexandria Muller, University of California - Santa Barbara

• Danielle Boyd Harlow, University of California - Santa Barbara

• Ron Skinner, MOXI, The Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation