Assessing Impacts for Online Professional Communities in Informal Science Education

In May 2008 UPCLOSE convened a CAISE Inquiry Group with evaluators, academic experts and project leaders to discuss how to evaluate online professional communities serving informal science education professionals. View presentations, read interviews with experts, and learn about the insights shared during this two-day meeting. Enter Website »

Search, link and contribute to the growing collection of 5059 references, abstracts and reviews of published, peer-reviewed work that reflects what we know about the theory, practice and evaluation of informal learning.

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Dissertation Spotlight

Institutionalization In Action: Science Center Interactivity And Materiality From The Family Perspective

Rhiannon Crain

Ph.D, Center for Informal Learning and Schools

In this study, I brought together historical work detailing the origination of organizational structure in interactive science museums with an activity-based perspective on families’ material experiences at a science center. [Read More]

 

Informal Learning Environments Research
Special Interest Group (ILER-SIG)


Informal Learning Environments Research is a Special Interest Group within the American Educational Research Association (AERA). Its mission is to further educational research in informal learning environments such as science centers, museums, zoos, aquariums, and nature centers, and to promote a community of practice interested in establishing and maintaining informal learning environments conducive to better understanding of teaching and learning.


The ILER-SIG meets annually at the AERA conferences, holds meetings, sessions, events and provides a quarterly newsletter. Join them in San Diego this year for the AERA Annual Meeting, April 13-17.


· Go to the InformalScience ILER-SIG community pages »
· Become an AERA member and join the ILER-SIG »
· Download Current Newsletter | Fall/Winter 2008 »

Special Collections

View VSA Archive » In collaboration with the Visitor Studies Association, over 600 full-text articles from Visitor Behavior, Visitor Studies and Visitor Studies Today are available for search and free download.


View INFLUENTIAL REPORTS » This special collection provides direct access to policy reports that influence the direction and funding decisions of the National Science Foundation and other agencies.