Informal Educators' Approaches to Creating Rich Learning Experiences Within a Physical Science Museum

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

Abstract

Informal educators are a crucial part of maximizing the opportunities available to visitors in informal education spaces. As part of a larger study on a year-long practice-based training program for facilitators at a hands-on physical science museum, we analyzed interview data from the third cohort of the program (2019-2020), which consisted of nine participants total, three of which are the focus for this proposal. We identified emergent themes from the three focus participants’ statements that pertain to beliefs about facilitation strategies. Through this analysis, we hoped to demonstrate the beliefs participants held at the beginning of the training program, as well as how those beliefs aligned with the framework of constructivism and identity work that guided the training program.

Authors

• Jasmine Marckwordt, University of California - Santa Barbara

• Alexandria Muller, University of California - Santa Barbara

• Devon Michaela Christman, University of California - Santa Barbara