Study of recent trends on science education at museums of natural history and related fields.

为了调查自然历史博物馆和相关领域的科学教育的最新趋势，本项目访问了以下博物馆和类似机构：落基山脉博物馆（MT博兹曼）、丹佛自然历史博物馆（科罗拉多州丹佛市）、菲尔德自然历史博物馆和科学与工业博物馆（伊利诺伊州芝加哥）、儿童博物馆（马萨诸塞州波士顿）、探索博物馆（加利福尼亚州旧金山）和蒙特利湾水族馆（加利福尼亚州蒙特利）。在各博物馆开展调查的方法如下：(1)收集出版物、教育标本等资料；（二）与教育、公共关系部门的工作人员就科学教育的规划、内容和教材的编制进行讨论和访谈；（三）观察或者实际参加科学教育活动；（四）对科学教育设施、设备进行观察和拍照。几乎所有博物馆都有一些共同的趋势：(1)志愿者的教育活动变得繁荣和广泛；(2)自然历史博物馆的发展、扩建和充实显著；(3)体验式学习系统和展品的组织和设计都很好。

In order to investigate recent trends on science education at museums of natural history and related fields, the following museums and similar institutions have been visited during this project: Museum of the Rockies (Bozeman, MT), Denver Museum of Natural History (Denver, CO), Field Museum of Natural History and Museum of Science and Industry (Chicago, IL), Children's Museum (Boston, MA), Exploratorium (San Francisco, CA), and Monterey Bay Aquarium (Monterey, CA).At each museum, investigation was done by the following methods: (1) to collect materials such as publications and educational specimens; (2) to discuss with and interview the staff of the education and/or public relation departments on the planning and contents of science education and the development of educational materials; (3) to observe or actually attend the science education program; and (4) to observe and take photos of the facilities and equipments for science education.A few trends that are common to almost all museums are (1) educational activity by volunteers has become prosperous and extensive, (2) development, expansion, and repletion of natural history museums are remarkable, and (3) experiential learning system and exhibits are well organized and designed.