Design Zone Professional Development Summative Report

As part of the National Science Foundation-funded Access Algebra project, the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) developed both a 6,000 square foot traveling exhibition (Design Zone) and a professional development program for host-museum facilitators who would work in the exhibition. The primary goal of the project was to engage visitors in algebraic thinking, with a special focus on reaching a target audience of 10- to 14-year-olds and their families. Facilitation in Design Zone was intended to support and extend visitors’ engagements with the exhibits and engage visitors in algebraic thinking. Garibay Group conducted the summative evaluation using a mixed method approach design. Data were collected at three museums that hosted the Design Zone exhibition. This report focuses on the extent to which the professional development component met its goals and realized its projected impacts. The results were interpreted within the framework of Kirkpatrick’s (1998) four-level model for evaluating professional development and training.