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Informal Learning & Synergies with Formal Education: NSF Perspective. David Ucko Division of Research on Learning in Formal & Informal Settings Directorate for Education & Human Resources National Science Foundation. Independent agency Supports basic research & education
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Informal Learning & Synergies with Formal Education: NSF Perspective David Ucko Division of Research on Learning in Formal & Informal Settings Directorate for Education & Human Resources National Science Foundation
Independent agency Supports basic research & education Uses grant mechanism Low overhead; highly automated Discipline-based structure Cross-disciplinary mechanisms Use of Rotators/IPAs National Science Board NSF in a nutshell Ucko
NSF Strategic Plan: Learning goal • To cultivate a world class, broadly inclusive science & engineering workforce & to expand the scientific literacy of all citizens Ucko
NSF directorates Ucko
Directorate for Education and Human Resources (EHR) Division of Graduate Education (DGE) Division of Research on Learning in Formal and Informal Settings (DRL) Division of Human Resource Development (HRD) Division of Undergraduate Education (DUE) EHR organization chart Ucko
EHR thematic framework STEM Research, Policy, and Practice Broadening Participation to Improve Workforce Development Furthering Public Understanding of Science and Advancing STEM Literacy Enriching the Education of STEM Teachers Promoting Cyber-enabled Learning Strategies to Enhance STEM Education Promoting Learning Through Research and Evaluation Disciplinary Change Sites Departmental Change Sites Ucko
Division of Research on Learning in Formal & Informal Settings (DRL) • R&D: learning & teaching • All STEM disciplines • Both formal and informal • Advance knowledge & practice Ucko
DRL core programs • Research & Evaluation on Education in Science & Engineering (REESE) • Discovery Research K-12 (DR-K12) • Informal Science Education (ISE) • Information Technology Experiences for Students & Teachers (ITEST) • Others: Presidential Awards for Mathematics & Science Teaching (PAEMST)… Ucko
Research & Evaluation on Education in Science & Engineering (REESE) • Core scientific questions about STEM teaching & learning • Discovery & innovation: all ages, all settings • Supports interdisciplinary research Program solicitation #: 08-585 Letter of Intent deadlines: October 09, 2009 Full proposal deadlines: November 12, 2009 Ucko
Discovery Research-K12 (DR-K12) • Development, implementation, & study of STEM resources, models, & technologies • Address both immediate needs & longer-term challenges Program solicitation #: 08-609 Full proposal deadline: January 7, 2010 Ucko
Informal Science Education (ISE) • Design, implement, & study exhibits, models, resources, & programs • Expand professional capacity • Advance knowledge through research & evaluation Program solicitation #: 09-553 Preliminary proposal deadline: June 24, 2010 Full proposal deadline: November 19, 2009; November 2010 Ucko
Innovative Technology Experiences for Students & Teachers (ITEST) • Encourage K-12 students to consider & prepare for careers • Build knowledge on approaches that increase capacity in STEM workforce Program solicitation #: 09-506 Letter of intent deadline: January 19, 2010 Full proposal deadline: February 12, 2010 Ucko
DRL R&D investments Ucko
DRL cycle of innovation scale up & study effectiveness REESE ITEST ISE implement, study efficacy, & improve synthesize & theorize ITEST DRK-12 REESE ISE ITEST DRK-12 hypothesize & clarify design, develop, & test ISE ITEST REESE DRK-12 Ucko Division of Research on Learning, NSF
11 PM 7:00 PM 3:00 PM 11:00 AM 7:00 AM TIME College K-12 2 4 6 8 10 12 MONTHS 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 LIFE SPAN Lifelong learning John H. Falk, Oregon State University, 2001 Ucko
Characteristics • Voluntary, self-directed • Prior knowledge, experience • Personal needs, interests • Social/cultural mediation • Cumulative, lifelong Playful Invention and Exploration Network, MIT Ucko
Growth of field Association of Science-Technology Centers Ucko
Informal STEM education community Falk, Randol, and Dierking, 2009 Ucko
Role of NSF STEM professionals Knowledge building: research & evaluation Informal STEM education orgs Public(s): STEM learning $ $ $ Ucko
Infrastructure Professional Planning Development $6,149,908 $1,115,657 2% $18,237,253 0% FRTV 7% Research $79,148,004 29% $25,628,658 9% Technology $38,041,518 14% Youth&Community $54,016,215 Exhibit 20% $53,434,712 19% ISE portfolio Ucko National Science Foundation
Exhibitions • >50% of traveling exhibitions toured by Association of Science-Technology Centers • Ex: CSI: The Experience • Hands-on forensics based on TV show Ft. Worth Museum of Science & History Ucko
TV, radio, & giant-screen film • Established as vehicles for educational STEM programming • Ex: PEEP and the Big Wide World • Science-readiness for preschool-age children • Emmy, Parent’ Choice Gold Awards Ucko WGBH
Technology & cyberlearning • Apply new technologies to informal learning • Web, simulations, gaming, PDAs... • Borgman et al., Cyberlearning Task Force • Ex: WolfQuest • game-based learning Minnesota Zoo Ucko
Youth & community • Target underserved youth & teens in more intensive science-based activity • Ex: Community Science Workshops • Neighborhood-based after-school programs serving disadvantaged communities Ucko University of Massachusetts, Boston
Professional • Increased professionalization of field • Continuing direct impact via research, conferences, publications, PD • Ex: informalscience.org University of Pittsburgh Center for Learning in Out of School Environments Ucko
Nanoscale Informal Science Ed. Network NSF $$$ NANOSCIENCE RESEARCH COMMUNITY ISECommunity NISE Network PROJECT EQUITY & DIVERSITY NISE Network CAPACITY CAPACITY Materials, Activities Increased Public Understanding of Nanoscale Science Ucko St. John, 2006
Research & evaluation emphasis • Further professionalization • Desire to advance field • Increased accountability • Growing academic interest • Formation of DRL Ucko
Evaluation in ISE • Start • Front-end Audience • Middle • Formative Deliverables • End • Remedial Fine-tuning • Summative Impacts Ucko
Project impact categories • Awareness/ knowledge/ understanding • Engagement or interest • Attitude • Behavior • Skills • Other Ucko Friedman, 2008
CAISE Ucko St. John, 2009
caise.insci.org Ucko
NRC synthesis study • “The committee found abundant evidence that across all venues—everyday experiences, designed settings, and programs, individuals of all ages learn science.” (ES-2) National Research Council, 2009 Ucko
Learning strands • 1. Developing Interest in Science • 2. Understanding Science Knowledge • 3. Engaging in Scientific Reasoning • 4. Reflecting on Science • 5. Engaging in Scientific Practice • 6. Identifying with the scientific enterprise. National Research Council, 2009 Ucko
Findings • Impact • Underserved groups • Assessment • Research Ucko
Impact • Future research • Practice • Community of practice • Validation Ucko
Formal Informal • Compulsory • Curriculum-based • Teacher-directed • “Push” • Extrinsic motivation • Set times • Ages 5 to 18 • Classrooms • Voluntary • Personal interest • Self-directed • “Pull” • Intrinsic motivation • Anytime • All ages, lifelong • Ubiquitous Ucko
Formal Informal • Transmission • Cognitive • Favored learning styles • Extended time • Group setting • Assessment • Constructivist • Affective • Flexible learning styles • Intermittent, brief • Individual, family, or group • No tests, grades Ucko
Informal as complement to formal • Out-of-school time enrichment • After-school, museums, media… • Cyberlearning • Classroom and teacher programs/resources Ucko
Center for Informal Learning & Schools • 90% or more offered at least one program of support for K-12 science education (in addition to one-day field trips) • More than half provided at least one form of teacher professional development • Serve ~73,000 schools, 62% of total • 9,000 districts, 2 m teachers, 36 m students • ISIs and Schools: A Landscape Study (Finkelstein, 2005) Ucko
Types of programs offered • Direct student to student (65%) • Teacher professional development (59%) • Collaboratives & national partnerships (46%) • Classroom materials & curricula (42%) Ucko
Museum-Schools • Formal partnership • Consistent integration of resources • “Students from diverse backgrounds can meet & exceed standards in core academic subjects when provided with access to relevant, object-based, interdisciplinary, experiential, & connected learning opportunities.” • Museum Schools: Hybrid Spaces for Accessing Learning (Phillips, 2006) Ucko
Informal-formal collaborations • Dedicated teachers & informal educators • Networks of relationships • Settings dedicated to science learning • Joint, purposeful activities • Sense of innovation • Community of practice Ucko
Challenges • Financial • Organizational • Pedagogical • Value • Knowledge • Evaluation Ucko
Formal as complement to informal • Standards • Learning progressions • Assessment • Professional development • Equity & access Ucko
Learning ecology • Home + school + after-school + community + museums + media +… • “dynamic entity that can be characterized by the diversity and depth of learning resources and activities” (B. Baron) Ucko
Informal as STEM education reform • Intrinsic motivation • Relevance • Interdisciplinary • Personalized • Learning to learn Ucko
Model of interest development • 1. Triggered situational interest • 2. Maintained situational interest • 3. Emerging individual interest • 4. Well-developed individual interest • Hidi & Renninger, 2006 Ucko
College readiness • Key cognitive strategies • Key content • Academic behaviors • Contextual skills & awareness • Educational Policy Improvement Center, 2007 Ucko