Topic: Museum

Often our studies of informal learning have explored programs developed by or for museums. These projects have sometimes focused on actual museum programs or exhibitions, but have also extended to museum-sponsored professional development for teachers, classroom programs for students, educational outreach, or Web resources for use in school or out.

American Museum of Natural History (AMNH): Space Shows 1 & 2 Rockman et al evaluated two dome-style planetarium shows created by the American Museum for Natural History. Rockman's evaluation of "The Search for Life" involved research at four sites around the country and included comparisons of comparable programs. more» Client: American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) Funding Agency: American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) Topic: Museum

1863 Civil War Journey: Raid on Indiana Connor Prairie Interactive History Park created 1863 Civil War Journey: Raid on Indiana, as a story-driven experience in which re-enactors and cutting-edge technology were used to tell the story of General Morgan's Raid on the Indiana town of Dupont during the Civil War. REA investigated the impact of the exhibition on visitors' interest in and knowledge about Indiana history and the Civil War using paper and online surveys and interviews collected via iPad. more» Client: Connor Prairie Interactive History Park Funding Agency: National Endowment for the Humanities Topic: Museum

California Academy of Sciences: Institute on Science and Sustainability Rockman et al developed an evaluation plan as part of a planning grant for the California Academy of Sciences' Institute on Science and Sustainability Program. The Institute on Science and Sustainability has built upon the Academy's strengths to create a network of master science teachers in the San Francisco Bay Area to raise the level of science education. more» Client: California Academy of Sciences Funding Agency: Bechtel Jr. Foundation Topic: Museum, Professional Development, Community Outreach, Technology and Education, Informational Media

California Academy of Sciences: Science in Action Rockman et al evaluated various design, technical, developmental, and educational elements of the California Academy of Science's Science in Action exhibit. Science in Action was launched in conjunction with the opening of the Academy's new state-of-the art facility in September 2008. Science in Action included a museum exhibit component, multimedia dissemination of content, and people-facilitated interactive experiences, and includes mission-related exhibit and programmatic changes to reflect new scientific discoveries by Academy and other scientists in the Bay Area and beyond. more» Client: California Academy of Sciences Funding Agency: Moore Foundation Topic: Museum, Community Outreach, Technology and Education, Informational Media

Coral Reef Classroom Kit Evaluation Rockman conducted a summative evaluation of the California Academy of Sciences’ Coral Reef Classroom Kit program during the 2009-2010 school year. The Coral Reef Kits are targeted for students in grades 3-7. As part of the Coral Reef Classroom Kit program, teachers attend an Academy-led workshop about the kit and later check out the kit for three weeks to implement in their classrooms. Each classroom kit is a portable container filled with materials for classroom science activities. more» Client: California Academy of Sciences Funding Agency: California Academy of Sciences Topic: Instructional Materials/Programs, Museum

de Young Museum of Art: Get Smart With Art REA conducted an evaluation of the de Young Museum's Get Smart With Art program for grades 1-3, and 4-8. Get Smart with Art @ the de Young is an interdisciplinary curriculum package that uses art objects as primary documents, sparking investigations into the diverse cultures represented by the Museum's collections. more» Client: de Young Museum of Art Funding Agency: de Young Museum of Art Topic: Museum

EARTH-The Operator's Manual (E-TOM) Evaluation Funded by NSF, Earth – The Operators’ Manual (ETOM) was a users’ guide to current and future energy resources of our planet, and provided “users” with the information, attitudes and tools to make wiser choices about powering homes, schools, businesses and communities. ETOM used a hybrid model of science communication that included television programming, in-person presentations, and Web 2.0 social networking. REA used a mixed-methods approach, including the use of surveys, focus groups, web analytics and outreach event observations to investigate the impact of project resources. more» Client: Passport to Knowledge Funding Agency: National Science Foundation (NSF): Informal Science Education Program (ISE) Topic: Instructional Materials/Programs, Informal Learning, Museum, TV/Radio, Web Sites, Technology and Education

Earthquake Show Evaluation Rockman et al (REA) was contracted by the California Academy of Sciences to conduct an onsite visitor and online survey in support of the Academy’s Earthquake show planned for 2012. more» Client: California Academy of Sciences Funding Agency: California Academy of Sciences Topic: Informal Learning, Museum

Enhanced Museum Visits Program 2008-2009 Rockman et al (REA) conducted a formative evaluation of the California Academy of Sciences’ new program for school groups, Enhanced Museum Visits for Students. The program was designed to deliver a “unique and awe-inspiring museum experience” for 4th and 5th grade San Francisco students, and enhance and extend the impact of the class visit by supporting an ongoing connection between the Academy and each student and their family. more» Client: California Academy of Sciences Funding Agency: Rock Foundation Topic: Museum

Enhanced Museum Visits Program 2009-2010 Rockman et al (REA) conducted a summative evaluation of the California Academy of Sciences’ Enhanced Museum Visits for Students program during the 2009-2010 school year. Education programs and teacher workshops are built into the field trip program to support and enrich the museum experience for teachers, students and families. REA conducted a mixed-method evaluation that consisted of field trip observations, teacher interviews, pre- and post-visit student surveys, and post-visit teacher survey. more» Client: California Academy of Sciences Funding Agency: Rock Foundation Topic: Museum

National History Day Program Study REA conducted a year long evaluation of the National History Day (NHD) program, in order to add empirical data to anecdotal evidence confirming the success of the program. NHD more than half a million students annually and seeks to teach critical thinking, research and communication skills. more» Client: National History Day Funding Agency: National History Day Topic: School Reform, Instructional Materials/Programs, Museum

Ocean Shells Enhanced Museum Visits Program 2010-2011 REA conducted an evaluation of the California Academy of Sciences’ Ocean Shells Enhanced Museum Visits Program during the 2010-2011 school year. Education programs and teacher workshops are built into the field trip program to support and enrich the museum experience for teachers, students and families. The goals of the evaluation consisted of examining student and teacher experiences before, during, and after their visit, including gathering information about the impact of the program. more» Client: California Academy of Sciences Funding Agency: Rock Foundation Topic: Museum

Open Exhibits Open Exhibits is an NSF-funded effort by Ideum, Inc. to create a shared platform for interactive exhibitions. Our evaluation effort has been largely formative thus far, and focused on providing feedback to help inform the ongoing development of the Open Exhibits website, community, and resources. more» Client: Ideum, Inc. Funding Agency: National Science Foundation (NSF): Informal Science Education Program (ISE) Topic: Informal Learning, Museum

Pacific Film Archive: CineFile The Pacific Film Archive (PFA) received an Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) grant to create an online film resource to increase K-20 classroom access to their archives. REA is evaluating the PFA's efforts to collect data from audiences and make design choices based on these data. more» Client: Pacific Film Archive Funding Agency: Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Topic: Instructional Materials/Programs, Museum, Web Sites, Community Outreach, Technology and Education

Rainforest Classroom Kit Evaluation Rockman et al (REA) conducted a summative evaluation of the California Academy of Sciences’ Rainforests of the World Kit for the 2010-2011 school year. The aim of the Rainforest Kit evaluation was to gather information on teachers’ access to and use of the kits, their impressions of the pre-implementation kit workshop, and on any short-term impacts of kit implementation on student interest and learning. more» Client: California Academy of Sciences Funding Agency: California Academy of Sciences Topic: Informal Learning, Museum, Professional Development

San Mateo Enhanced Museum Visits Program Rockman et al (REA) conducted a formative evaluation of the California Academy of Sciences’ pilot program for San Mateo, CA school groups. The pilot program was entitled the San Mateo Enhanced Museum Visits for Students. This project was based on the Academy's Enhanced Museum Visits for Students supported by the Arthur and Toni Rembe Rock Fund that launched in fall 2008 and is available to students from the San Francisco Unified School District. more» Client: California Academy of Sciences Funding Agency: California Academy of Sciences Topic: Museum

Science Fiction Museum During the first part of 2004, Rockman et al conducted a series of research activities for the Science Fiction Museum that were designed to identify potential museum visitors’ perceptions of the relationship between science fiction and science. more» Client: Experience Learning Community (ELC) Funding Agency: National Science Foundation Topic: Informal Learning, Museum

Silk Road Exhibit Evaluation REA worked with American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) staff on a summative, collaborative evaluation effort looking at several aspects of their exhibition, The Silk Road - Ancient Pathway to the Modern World. The exhibition brought to life one of the greatest trade routes of ancient times, and showcased the goods, cultures, and technologies from several representative cities. more» Client: American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) Funding Agency: American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) Topic: Museum

Teacher Institute for Science and Sustainability (TISS) 2011-12 REA conducted an evaluation of the third year of the Teacher Institute on Science and Sustainability (TISS). TISS is an overlapping, two-year teacher development program run by the California Academy of Sciences. The program is designed to improve science teaching and encourage teachers to incorporate the concept of sustainability into their teaching in the 3rd–5th grades in San Francisco schools and beyond. more» Client: California Academy of Sciences Funding Agency: Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation Topic: Museum, Professional Development

Teacher Institute for Science and Sustainability (TISS) Phase 2 In 2010-2011, REA conducted an evaluation of California Academy of Sciences Teacher Institute on Science and Sustainability (TISS) program. TISS is a two-year teacher development program of the California Academy of Sciences (CAS). more» Client: California Academy of Sciences Funding Agency: Moore Foundation Topic: Museum, Professional Development

The Smithsonian–National Museum of American History - Excellence in History Teaching Program The Smithsonian–National Museum of American History Excellence in History Teaching Program, funded by a gift from A. James Clark, provides professional development for over 3,000 teachers nationwide through two initiatives designed to energize social studies teachers and to promote hands-on, primary source-based instruction. more» Client: The Smithsonian–National Museum of American History Funding Agency: funded by a gift from A. James Clark Topic: Instructional Materials/Programs, Museum, Professional Development

University of California Museum of Paleontology (UCMP): Exploring Evolution/Evolution All Around Us (EE/EAAU) REA conducted a thorough, multi-component evaluation of University of California Museum of Paleontology's (UCMP) Understanding Evolution website. The site provides an online resource for teachers to use in teaching evolution. The site also provides classroom resources: a conceptual framework, a suite of evaluated lessons appropriate for different grade spans, and teaching strategies to avoid or overcome roadblocks to teaching evolution. more» Client: University of California Museum of Paleontology (UCMP) Funding Agency: National Science Foundation and Howard Hughes Medical Foundation Topic: Assessment, Instructional Materials/Programs, Museum, Web Sites, Technology and Education