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ERIC Number: EJ1346430
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2022-Aug
Pages: 24
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0741-7136
EISSN: EISSN-1552-3047
Adult Education at Biological Field Stations: Building Capacity for Science Learning
Zarestky, Jill; Vilen, Lauren; Short, Rachel A.; Struminger, Rhonda; Michelle Lawing, A.
Adult Education Quarterly: A Journal of Research and Theory, v72 n3 p284-307 Aug 2022
An understanding of science concepts is important for living in modern society. Supporting adults' science learning can be particularly challenging because most adults no longer attend formal educational institutions where access and opportunities are facilitated by teachers and school-sponsored programs. Biological field stations (BFSs) are a newly recognized educational venue that hold considerable intrinsic value for adult science education. In this study, we conducted a survey of 223 U.S. BFSs about their non-formal and informal educational outreach programs for adults. Results show BFSs offer a wide variety of science learning programs for adults, focused heavily on experiential learning to engage learners. These experiences promote interactions with the natural environment and are perceived to increase participants' knowledge and skills. This study has implications for how adult educators can better support the professional development of science educators at BFSs and enrich the general public's science learning.
SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2993
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Adult Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: National Science Foundation (NSF), Division of Biological Infrastructure (DBI); National Science Foundation (NSF), Division of Research on Learning in Formal and Informal Settings (DRL)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: NSFDBI2010680; NSFDRL1713351; NSFDRL1713359