A growing body of evidence indicates that, increasingly, the public is engaging with science in a wide range of informal environments, which can be any setting outside of school such as community-based programs, festivals, libraries, or home. Yet undergraduate and graduate schools often don't prepare scientists for public communication. This…

This guide is based on findings of a year-long study undertaken by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to evaluate Institute-sponsored programs for youth aged 9-19 between 1998 and 2003, and discussion with the IMLS Youth Action Committee and practitioners about the kind of information needed for planning and implementing effective…

Designed to develop the reader's knowledge and skills, this book explores key issues such as communication, power relations, ethics, gender exclusion, sexuality, race discrimination, and social class in informal education in the youth work setting. The author places emphasis on conversation as a key means of promoting informal learning and…

Shares experiences as a teacher in the School-Museum Informal Learning Experiences in Science Project (SMILES). Highlights factors that contribute to excursions that successfully support students' learning of science. (ASK)

People learn in many different ways and in many different places. What is learned informally or experientially is often the same or similar to what may be learned in traditional formal learning environments. There are many reasons why recognizing experiential learning is viable educational option, more so in today's economy than ever before. Prior…

Camp dance programs should be sequenced to maximize campers' comfort levels and create an atmosphere of fun and involvement. Begin with general musical activities that don't involve dancing, such as name that tune. Progress to dances that don't require partners--line dancing, step dancing, and the limbo. Then introduce partnered dancing, using…

This book gives step-by-step instructions on how to design, implement, and present an evaluation study for a museum or other settings for informal education, and it presents guidelines for studying the experiences of visitors in informal educational settings. The chapters are: (1) "Planning an Evaluation Project"; (2) "Informal…

Outlines 26 activities to help parents develop informal learning experiences which foster an interest in reading, including bookmaking, grocery shopping, read aloud sessions, and zoo trips. (MM)

Field trips don't have to be grueling. This practical guide helps teachers work together with science educators in the community to avoid common pitfalls that interfere with the many science-learning opportunities that exist in museums, parks, and science centers. The book offers tips and strategies on selecting community resources for field…

Offers reminders and tips for improving interpretive walks, including having a theme, drawing on basic teaching methods, drawing on all senses rather than just talking, being a role model to show how learning can be fun, using picture books, using tools of the trade to encourage visitors to learn for themselves, and playing games. (PVD)

In 1992, the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) launched a 3-year project titled Natural Resources for Equity in Science: Connecting Museums and Community Groups, also known as Project MOSAIC (Museums Offering Science Assistance in the Community). This manual and accompanying video, designed by Project MOSAIC, covers…

Offers a planning guide for English teachers interested in organizing a student tour to the United Kingdom. Includes details for designing the tour, budgeting expenses, recruiting students, arranging transportation and lodging, and preparing students before departure. Presents a timetable summarizing pretrip preparations. (MM)

Concepts at the heart of intercultural communication are addressed in a step-by-step manner and include individualism and collectivism, monochronic and polychronic concepts of time, verbal and nonverbal communication styles, and power distance relationships in the workplace. Cross-cultural dialogues are used as pre- and post-tests to analyze the…

Designed primarily for educators, this paper focuses on the importance of water in the daily life of all living creatures and on the role marine and aquatic education plays in helping individuals understand this concept. Section one discusses the limitations of water, human impact on the global water system, and the need to protect it. Section two…

The National Aeronautical Space Administration's (NASA) Earth Science Enterprise (ESE) produces a wide range of products for teachers and students and supports educational activities for all grade levels in cooperation with the NASA Headquarters Education Division. This catalog presents the diverse educational programs, products, and resources…