September 1st, 1997 - August 31st, 1998 | PROJECT
"Constructivist Reflections: World of Water Project Planning" is a planning activity to be carried out by Discovery 2000, Inc. They are developing a 14,000 sq. ft. area of aquatic exhibits and support spaces that will increase visitors understanding of the science concepts related to water, aquatic habitats, and organisms. The exhibit area will be developed in two phases. Phase I will be completed in the spring of 1998. It will consist of 15 or so fresh-and saltwater habitat tanks, a learning laboratory, a small program theater, a salt marsh touch pool and eight interactive exhibits. Phase II, for which this planning support will be used, will consist of an additional 25 interactive exhibits and associated programs. The Phase I area will serve as an experimental laboratory for the creation of the Phase II learning activities. With this planning grant, they will hold three staff development workshops, a planning seminar focusing on the learning theory of constructivism and how it can inform and drive exhibit and program development, produce a report of the seminar proceedings, and identify and recruit a national advisory team to assist with the development of Phase II. As a result of the planning activity their staff will be informed about constructivist theory and its application to museum exhibits and activities, they will increase their knowledge of front-end evaluation strategies, they will develop new community and professional partnerships, and they will have a plan to use as they move forward with the implementation of Phase II exhibits.
Project Website(s)
(no project website provided)
Team Members
Dwight Downs, Principal Investigator, Discovery 200 Incorporated (McWane Science Center)Samuel Kindervater, Co-Principal Investigator, Discovery 200 Incorporated (McWane Science Center)
Funders
Funding Source: NSF
Funding Program: ISE/AISL
Award Number: 9707117
Funding Amount: 49518
Tags
Audience: General Public | Museum | ISE Professionals
Discipline: Ecology | forestry | agriculture | Geoscience and geography | Life science
Resource Type: Project Descriptions
Environment Type: Exhibitions | Museum and Science Center Exhibits