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

为了调查自然历史和相关领域博物馆科学教育的最新趋势，本项目访问了下列博物馆和类似机构：落基山脉博物馆(博兹曼，MT)、丹佛自然历史博物馆(丹佛，科罗拉多州)、菲尔德自然历史博物馆和科学与工业博物馆(芝加哥，伊利诺伊州)、儿童博物馆(波士顿，马萨诸塞州)、探索博物馆(旧金山，加利福尼亚州)和蒙特雷湾水族馆(蒙特利湾，加利福尼亚州)。(2)与教育和/或公共关系部门的工作人员讨论和采访科学教育的规划和内容以及教材的开发；(3)观察或实际参加科学教育计划；(4)观察和拍摄科学教育的设施和设备。几乎所有博物馆都有几个共同的趋势：(1)志愿者教育活动变得繁荣和广泛，(2)自然历史博物馆的发展、扩建和修复显著，(3)体验式学习系统和展品得到很好的组织和设计。

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.