The Blue Whales Project: Engaging audiences in adaptation related science content through a giant screen film and educational activities in science centers and rural libraries

蓝鲸项目：通过大屏幕电影以及科学中心和乡村图书馆的教育活动，让观众参与改编相关的科学内容

• 批准号: 2115860
• 负责人: Gretchen Bazela
• 金额: $ 299.62万
• 依托单位: California Science Center Foundation
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2021
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2021-10-01 至 2024-09-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2115860&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Blue; Whales; Project; Engaging; audiences

This award is funded in whole or in part under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Public Law 117-2)Despite the rich scientific evidence of adaptations and their evolutionary basis, there are concerning public misconceptions about evolution, processes of natural selection, and adaptations in the biodiverse world. Such misconceptions begin early. Younger elementary school children are often resistant to the idea that one “kind” of animal could descend from a completely different kind of animal, and they see features as having always existed. Other misconceptions lead to an inaccurate belief that changes in individual organisms acquired in a lifetime are passed directly on to offspring or that entire populations transform as a whole. These cognitive biases and "intuitive” misunderstandings can persist into adulthood. This Innovations in Development project will counter that narrative through an informal science project focusing on the blue whale one of nature’s most spectacular stories of adaptation. It is a species that lives life at extremes: a long-distance migrator, a deep diver, an extravagant eater, the largest animal to ever exist. With its awe-inspiring size and rich mosaic of anatomical, physiological, and behavioral specializations, it serves as a bridge to an enriched understanding of universal concepts in elementary biology and can begin to dispel the deeply rooted misconceptions. The project deliverables include a giant screen film documenting the field work of research scientists studying the blue whales in the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Mexico; multi-platform educational modules and programs that will build on the blue whale content from the film for use in science center programs and rural libraries; and professional development webinars that will offer content utilization and presentation skills for ISE facilitators. Project partners include California Science Center, STAR Library Education Network, HHMI Tangled Bank Studios and SK Films. The external evaluation studies will gather data from 20 participating rural libraries and 6 science museums. A formative evaluation of the film will be conducted in a giant screen theater setting with 75 families. After viewing a fine-cut version of the film they will complete age-appropriate post-viewing surveys on the film’s engagement, storytelling, content appeal and clarity, and learning value in communicating key science concepts. An external summative evaluation will include three studies. Study 1 will assess the implementation of the project at the 26 organizations, addressing the question: To what extent is the project implemented as envisioned in the libraries and science center settings? Baseline information will be collected, and later partners will complete post-grant surveys to report on their actual implementation of the project elements. In addition, the study will examine outcomes relating to professional development. Study 2 will be an evaluation of the film as experienced by 400 youth and parents in science centers and examining the question: To what extent does experiencing the film engage youth and parents and affect their interest, curiosity, and knowledge of blue whales, adaptations, and the scientific process? Study 3 will examine: To what extent and how does experiencing an educational module (virtual field trips, hands on activities, augmented reality) affect youth and parents’ interest, curiosity, and knowledge of adaptations and scientific process?As part of its overall strategy to enhance learning in informal environments, the Advancing Informal STEM Learning (AISL) program seeks to advance new approaches to, and evidence-based understanding of, the design and development of STEM learning in informal environments. This includes providing multiple pathways for broadening access to and engagement in STEM learning experiences, advancing innovative research on and assessment of STEM learning in informal environments, and developing understandings of deeper learning by participants.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

该奖项全部或部分由2021年美国救援计划法案（公法117-2）资助尽管适应性及其进化基础有丰富的科学证据，但公众对进化，自然选择过程和生物多样性世界的适应性存在误解。 这种误解开始很早。年龄较小的小学生通常不愿意接受一种“种类”的动物可能来自完全不同种类的动物的想法，他们认为特征一直存在。其他误解导致不准确的信念，即个体生物在一生中获得的变化会直接传递给后代，或者整个种群作为一个整体发生变化。 这些认知偏见和“直觉”误解可能会持续到成年。 这个发展中的创新项目将通过一个非正式的科学项目来反驳这种说法，该项目专注于蓝鲸，这是自然界最壮观的适应故事之一。 这是一个生活在极端的物种：长途迁徙者，深潜者，奢侈的饮食者，有史以来最大的动物。它令人敬畏的规模和丰富的解剖学，生理学和行为学专业知识，它作为一个桥梁，丰富的理解基础生物学的普遍概念，并可以开始消除根深蒂固的误解。该项目的交付成果包括一部记录研究科学家在印度洋和墨西哥湾研究蓝鲸的实地工作的大屏幕电影;多平台教育模块和计划，将建立在电影中的蓝鲸内容上，用于科学中心计划和农村图书馆;以及专业发展网络研讨会，将为伊势主持人提供内容利用和演示技能。 项目合作伙伴包括加州科学中心，星星图书馆教育网络，HHMI纠结银行工作室和SK电影。 外部评估研究将从20个参与的农村图书馆和6个科学博物馆收集数据。对这部电影的形成性评估将在一个有75个家庭的大屏幕剧院进行。 在观看了电影的精修版本后，他们将完成与年龄相适应的观影后调查，内容包括电影的参与度、故事讲述、内容吸引力和清晰度，以及在传达关键科学概念方面的学习价值。 外部总结性评价将包括三项研究。研究1将评估该项目在26个组织中的实施情况，解决以下问题：该项目在图书馆和科学中心环境中的实施程度如何？将收集基线信息，随后合作伙伴将完成赠款后调查，以报告其项目内容的实际执行情况。 此外，这项研究将审查与专业发展有关的成果。 研究2将评估400名青少年和家长在科学中心体验的电影，并研究这个问题：体验电影在多大程度上吸引了青少年和家长，并影响他们对蓝鲸的兴趣，好奇心和知识，适应和科学过程？ 研究3将审查： 体验教育模块（虚拟实地考察、动手活动、增强现实）在多大程度上以及如何影响青年和家长的兴趣、好奇心以及对适应和科学过程的了解？作为其整体战略的一部分，以加强在非正式环境中的学习，推进非正式STEM学习（AISL）计划旨在推进新的方法，并以证据为基础的理解，在非正式环境中的STEM学习的设计和开发。这包括提供多种途径，以扩大获得和参与STEM学习经验，推进创新研究和评估的STEM学习在非正式环境中，并发展的理解，更深层次的学习参与者。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并已被认为是值得通过评估使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响力审查标准的支持。