The story of the field of visitor studies is long and somewhat winding—and it continues to grow and evolve. Visitor studies professionals are focused on all facets of the visitor experience in museums, zoos, nature centers, visitor centers, historic sites, parks and other informal learning settings. They are committed to understanding and enhancing visitor experiences … Read more
Do the exhibits, programs, and other activities you develop, implement, or evaluate have science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) identity as a learning goal or desired outcome? If so, are you taking into account the concept of identity in its full complexity? The Evaluation and Measurement Task Force of the Center for Advancement of Informal Science Education … Read more
The World Biotech Tour was a three-year initiative supported by the Biogen Foundation and managed by the Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC). The project was designed to promote a greater understanding of biotechnology through science center and museum programming and provided insights on the resources required and challenges encountered when implementing a year-long, multi-country program in informal science environments. … Read more
Feedback Needed: AEA and The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation Evaluation Webinar Series The American Evaluation Association, with support from The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, will offer a series of professional development webinars in 2018 focused on some of the most gripping and relevant topics facing evaluators, the evaluation profession, and evaluators producing evaluations funded … Read more
The American Evaluation Association (AEA) is searching for host sites for AEA’s Graduate Education Diversity Internship (GEDI) Program. Host sites provide meaningful evaluation project work and mentoring to interns. GEDI Interns are among the best and brightest graduate students in the country who are learning through the internship to transfer their strong inquiry skills to … Read more
Developing an evaluation report can be challenging. Happily, there are dedicated evaluation professionals who use their expertise to help the community produce the best reporting that they can. EvaluATE is the evaluation support center for the National Science Foundation’s Advanced Technological Education program. The center produces tools for the ATE community to help guide people through … Read more
Considering whether to volunteer to be an NSF Advancing Informal STEM Learning (AISL) reviewer? Here’s some information to help you decide if you are a good fit. Each year, the NSF AISL program looks for peer reviewers. New reviewers often have questions about the commitment to review. This slide deck is to help you understand what … Read more
Springer has announced a new journal, The Journal of Formative Design in Learning, which will present original papers that inform the study and practice of education and training, including evaluation reports. The Journal of Formative Design in Learning is currently accepting submissions. All articles published by the journal will be available for free during 2017 and … Read more
The Visitor Studies Association (VSA) seeks proposals for session presentations and workshops for the 2017 conference in Columbus, OH July 18-22. VSA seeks to foster a sense of community among its members, who gather once a year to pose intriguing questions, explore diverse opinions, debate controversial issues, challenge assumptions and share their successes and their … Read more
The Center for Advancement of Informal Science Education (CAISE) will convene an interactive Edit-a-Thon workshop at the 2016 Visitor Studies Association (VSA) Conference this summer in Boston, MA. This free workshop will take place on Saturday, July 23, 2016 from 2-5 PM. Participants will be invited to collaboratively create content for the InformalScience.org Knowledge Base, … Read more