Advancing the Design of Visualizations for Informal Science Engagement

作为加强非正式环境中学习的总体战略的一部分，推进非正式STEM学习(AISL)计划寻求促进非正式环境中STEM学习的设计和发展的新方法和基于证据的理解。这包括为扩大获得和参与STEM学习经验提供多种途径，推进对非正式环境中STEM学习的创新研究和评估，以及加深参与者对更深层次学习的理解。这个项目是一个为期两天的会议，以及会前和会后活动，目的是促进非正式科学学习领域对已用于帮助公众更好地理解和更多地参与科学的数据可视化研究和开发的审查。该项目将解决非正式科学教育方面的迫切需要，为综合可视化研究和技术开发迈出关键的第一步，从而为这一重大且迅速变化的领域的实地工作提供信息并加快其工作。该项目将从项目评估员在会议之前进行的Delphi研究开始，对迄今为止的数据可视化工作进行新的实地评估。然后，在旧金山探索博物馆举行的为期两天的会议和相关活动将汇集AISL资助的个人投资银行家、计算机科学家、认知科学家、设计师和技术开发人员，以(A)综合迄今的工作，(B)引入非正式学习以外的领域的相关研究，以及(C)确定进一步研究和开发的剩余知识差距。项目组还将开发一个网站，其中包括所有发言的视频、会议文件、资源和社交媒体社区的链接；以及一个会后出版物，介绍该领域的状况、关键发现和有前景的技术。该计划也有一个扩大参与的目标，因为与会者将包括该领域为数据可视化工作做出贡献的不同专业人员。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

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 project is a two-day conference, along with pre- and post-conference activities, with the goal of furthering the informal science learning field's review of the research and development that has been conducted on data visualizations that have been used to help the public better understand and become more engaged in science. The project will address an urgent need in informal science education, providing a critical first step towards a synthesis of research and technology development in visualization and, thus, to inform and accelerate work in the field in this significant and rapidly changing domain.The project will start with a Delphi study by the project evaluator prior to the conference to provide an Emerging Field Assessment on data visualization work to date. Then, a two-day conference at the Exploratorium in San Francisco and related activities will bring together AISL-funded PIs, computer scientists, cognitive scientists, designers, and technology developers to (a) synthesize work to date, (b) bring in relevant research from fields outside of informal learning, and (c) identify remaining knowledge gaps for further research and development. The project team will also develop a website with videos of all presentations, conference documentation, resources, and links to social media communities; and a post-conference publication mapping the state of the field, key findings, and promising technologies. The initiative also has a goal to broaden participation, as the attendees will include a diverse cadre of professionals in the field who contribute to data visualization work.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.