New Proceedings from the National Academy of Sciences
Last summer, the National Academies brought together more than 400 researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and funders to discuss the latest developments in the field of informal science and engineering education. Participants representing a wide variety of informal learning settings—including aquariums, parks, museums, out-of-school time (OST) programs, science centers, and citizen science efforts—reflected on the impacts of the 2009 National Academies’ report, Learning Science in Informal Environments, and how the field has evolved since then.
Participants highlighted successes and challenges to providing informal science and engineering learning experiences to learners of all ages and backgrounds and identified potential next steps for research, practice, and policy to enhance the reach and effectiveness of the field. Key takeaways from the event include:
- Learning Science in Informal Environments played a significant role in legitimizing the field of informal science education and galvanizing over a decade of expansion in programming and research focused on learning experiences in informal environments.
- Over the past 15 years, significant progress has been made to improve the quality of science and engineering learning experiences in informal environments, and these experiences now serve as an essential component of STEM education and engagement across the country.
- A number of challenges have limited overall progress, including inconsistent policy and financial support for informal STEM education and gaps in understanding about whether specific learning outcomes have been achieved due to evaluation difficulties.
- Participants suggested future priorities for the field could include: creating a field-wide R&D agenda, improving research and evaluation infrastructure, more intentionally focusing on adults and lifelong learning, enhancing staff development opportunities, and developing strategies for advancing the work in a constantly evolving funding landscape.
Explore an engaging summary of the convocation discussions by downloading our new proceedings.
Learn more and watch recordings from the event here.