The culture of science is more than science-as knowledge. It is even more than science-as-method. It includes public awareness of the impact of science-technology and mathematics on the economic and social well-being of citizens and their opportunity and readiness to enter into civic discussions of scientific issues. The culture of science in this…

In the not too distant past a person's skills, knowledge, understanding and competence were judged largely on the initial education and training that he or she had undertaken, with continuing professional development (CPD) being seen as an optional extra by those who had enthusiasm for it. Gradually CPD has come to be recognized as an important,…

This document presents an overview of marine education in the United States for 1997. Marine education is defined as education regarding the ocean, coastal waters, and Great Lakes. This report describes the history of marine education, informal education, and discusses its place in elementary, secondary, and higher education. (Contains 16…

Some parks and some artists working outdoors are interacting with the environment and interpreting ecology through artworks in ways related to methodology of interpreters. Several sculpture parks are described. Sculptures include those that interpret local history and ecology, teach about tree function or historic use of stone, or supply habitats…

The Sierra Club's Inner City Outing programs provide wilderness experiences to thousands of inner-city children each year. The programs frequently partner up with children's agencies such as the YMCA and pediatric AIDS care groups. A weekend outing to Manchac Wildlife Area research station (Louisiana) by kids ages 7-14 from central New Orleans is…

Discusses informal education as a form for learning about computers and describes relevant computer competencies on four levels based on empirical project work. Computer learning offered by formal, organized programs and by informal methods via the media are reviewed. Contains 56 references. (Author/LRW)

Examines characteristics of informal outdoor education offered by youth programs and human services agencies. Discusses the nature of curriculum and whether it is necessary, relative emphasis on process or product, experiential learning, appropriate use of activities, the importance of dialog in stimulating critical thinking, and client reflection…

A group of Maine birdwatchers recognizes that the presence or absence of migrating songbirds is related to complex biospheric patterns. For schoolchildren, community groups, and environmental scientists, such local natural history observations can be a pathway to perceiving and understanding global ecological change and then to developing…

Music educators in many countries have attempted to close the gap between two musical worlds: that of pupils' musical culture outside school and that of the classroom. However, while the former musical world, represented by various popular musics, now makes up a major part of curriculum content, the informal learning practices of the musicians who…

The hidden dimensions of leadership and of the costs associated with the implementation of new information systems should be carefully considered. They can help determine the short- and long-term success of new systems.

This 45-paper anthology presents an overall picture of 1973-1983 writings in Roundtable Reports, the quarterly journal of Museum Education Roundtable. Thirty-five of the articles appeared in previous Roundtable Reports, while some are new articles that reflect on original articles to provide context and historical perspective. Papers are grouped…

Applies research on the instructional effectiveness of science-oriented field trips to humane education programs. Advocates the use of animal-related field trips and provides guidelines for excursion activities. (ML)

Among African cultures, the creative process is regarded as the most important because it is usually done jointly as a culturally shared communal activity. For Africans, art is normally functional and the artifacts carry more meaning when they are in use. This paper focuses on the communal making of art, rather than just the aesthetic appreciation…

Includes "Take Your Partners for Adult Learning" (Carlton); "Museums Must Recognize Needs of All Users" (Anderson); "Charts, Ships, Models and the History of Time" (Coben, Lincoln); "Alternative Ways of Learning" (Sullivan); "Older Adults and Family Learning" (Reynolds); "Multiculturalism,…

This paper traces the evolution of a theory of learning in nature in order to explain how people learn in natural settings. The intellectual roots of the theory in informal learning, cognition, affective development, experiential and meaningful learning are described and the synthesis into a comprehensive theory of learning in nature are…