Investigating the Long-term Impacts of Informal Science Learning at Zoos and Aquariums

根据每年的游客数量，动物园和水族馆是美国和英国最受欢迎的非正式STEM学习场所之一。大多数关于动物园和水族馆非正式STEM学习经历的影响的研究都集中在知识、态度和行为的短期变化上。该项目将确定研究动物园和水族馆非正式STEM学习经验的长期影响的机会和障碍。该项目将解决以下主要研究问题：在动物园和水族馆进行非正式STEM学习体验的长期影响是什么，以及如何衡量？虽然之前的研究已经记录了显著的结果，但了解动物园和水族馆学习体验的长期影响将提供对这些项目对STEM知识、技能和应用的影响的更深层次和更细微的理解。这项研究是作为NSF推进非正式STEM学习计划的一部分资助的，科学学习+(SL+)。SL+是美国和英国基金会的合作伙伴关系。它资助那些采取变革性步骤来告知、改进和推进非正式STEM学习经验和环境的知识库、实践和设计的项目。SL+的长期目标是扩大对STEM的参与，并更好地了解、加强和协调STEM参与和终身学习。这项研究将使用参与性进程来确定：(1)动物园和水族馆的非正式科学学习经历的潜在长期影响的范围；(2)促进这些影响的特定活动；以及(3)衡量这些影响的机会和障碍。首先，深入的文献回顾将记录动物园和水族馆社区内迄今的研究成果。其次，一系列咨询研讨会(面对面和在线)将从动物园和水族馆教育的从业者、研究人员和其他利益相关者那里收集想法和意见。咨询讲习班将特别集中于两个问题：(1)在动物园和水族馆进行的非正式科学学习经历有哪些不同类型和特点？以及(2)动物园和水族馆的目标是在知识、态度、技能和行为/行动方面对游客产生什么长期影响？最后，将在美国和英国的动物园和水族馆进行游客调查，以收集参观者认为动物园或水族馆的非正式STEM学习机会的长期影响。通过所有这些活动收集的数据将用于设计一项为期五年的混合方法研究，以调查动物园或水族馆非正式STEM学习经历的长期影响和相关指标。这项为期五年的研究的目标之一将是测试最终可能被全球动物园和水族馆社区用来衡量非正式STEM学习计划的长期影响的仪器。设计工具以更好地了解动物园和水族馆非正式STEM学习的长期影响，将有助于我们衡量STEM学习成果的能力。其他好处包括随着时间的推移，游客的科学素养和STEM技能的提高，以及了解教育项目如何为世界各地的野生动物保护做出贡献。

Based on the number of visitors annually, zoos and aquariums are among the most popular venues for informal STEM learning in the United States and the United Kingdom. Most research into the impacts of informal STEM learning experiences at zoos and aquariums has focused on short-term changes in knowledge, attitudes and behaviors. This project will identify the opportunities for and barriers to researching the long-term impacts of informal STEM learning experiences at zoos and aquariums. The project will address the following overarching research question: What are and how do we measure the long-term impacts of an informal STEM learning experience at a zoo and aquarium? While previous research has documented notable results, understanding the long-term impacts of zoo and aquarium learning experiences will provide a deeper and more nuanced understanding of the impact of these programs on STEM knowledge, skills and application. This study is funded as part of NSF's Advancing Informal STEM Learning program, Science Learning+ (SL+). SL+ is a partnership among US and UK foundations. It funds projects that take transformational steps to inform, improve, and advance the knowledge bases, practices, and design of informal STEM learning experiences and environments. The long-term SL+ goals are to broaden participation in STEM and to better understand, strengthen and coordinate STEM engagement and lifelong learning. This study will use a participatory process to identify: (1) the range of potential long-term impacts of informal science learning experiences at zoos and aquariums; (2) particular activities that foster these impacts; and (3) opportunities for and barriers to measuring those impacts. First, an in-depth literature review will document previous research efforts to date within the zoo and aquarium community. Second, a series of consultative workshops (both in-person and online) will gather ideas and input from practitioners, researchers, and other stakeholders in zoo and aquarium education. The consultative workshops will focus on two questions in particular: (1) What are the different types and characteristics of informal science learning experiences that take place at zoos and aquariums? and (2) What are the long-term impacts zoos and aquariums are aiming to have on visitors in relation to knowledge, attitudes, skills and behaviors/actions? Finally, visitor surveys at zoos and aquariums in the US and UK will be conducted to gather input on what visitors believe are the long-term impacts of an informal STEM learning opportunity at a zoo or aquarium. The data gathered through all of these activities will inform the design of a five-year, mixed-methods study to investigate long-term impacts and associated indicators of an informal STEM learning experience at a zoo or aquarium. One of the aims of the five-year study will be to test instruments that could eventually be used by the global zoo and aquarium community to measure the long-term impacts of informal STEM learning programs. Designing tools to better understand the long-term impacts of informal STEM learning at zoos and aquariums will contribute to our ability to measure STEM learning outcomes. Additional benefits include improved science literacy and STEM skills amongst visitors over time and an understanding of how education programs contribute to wildlife conservation worldwide.