Traits of Life: A Collection of Life Sciences Exhibits

March 9th, 2004 | EVALUATION

In 1998, the Exploratorium staff submitted a proposal to the National Science Foundation to develop a collection of life science exhibits "to offer science center visitors new ways to explore characteristics shared by all living things." The intention was to combine existing Exploratorium components as well as new exhibits and emphasize in the exhibit collection "that all life, no matter how diverse, shares common essential traits." This proposal was one of a series planned to develop permanent exhibits at the Exploratorium. The evaluation was intended to document several aspects of visitors' response to the exhibition. These included:

  • What do visitors actually do in the exhibition (their behavior)?
  • Does it lead them to new ways of thinking about traits of life?
  • Are they intrigued by individual exhibit components?
  • Do they appreciate the commonalities of life forms?
  • Do they practice and enhance observation skills?
  • Does it encourage conversations related to life sciences?
  • Did visitors recognize this group of exhibits as different in design from other Exploratorium exhibits?

Document

report_82.pdf

Team Members

George Hein, Evaluator, Lesley University
Exploratorium, Contributor

Funders

Funding Source: NSF
Funding Program: ISE/AISL
Award Number: 9814646
Funding Amount: 1565354

Related URLs

Traits of Life: Exploratory Exhibits in the Life Sciences

Tags

Audience: Evaluators | General Public | Museum | ISE Professionals
Discipline: Education and learning science | Life science | Nature of science
Resource Type: Evaluation Reports | Summative
Environment Type: Exhibitions | Museum and Science Center Exhibits