This research article reports results of a study centered on an undergraduate instructor who facilitated a practice-based field experience with undergraduate preservice teachers (n=125) in an urban museum setting, working with middle school students with a public museum school. In addition to exploring this practice-based field experience, we also…

The purpose of this study is to examine how preservice middle-school mathematics teachers connect mathematics with museum resources in their lesson plans. Nine museum-based mathematics lesson plans developed by preservice teachers were examined, based on the interactive experience model. The findings showed that although the preservice teachers…

With the work done in the process, it was tried to raise awareness about museums and to explain how valuable museums are for a new perspective on education and most importantly for the social studies course. In the study, a 2x2 split-plot mixed design was used. In the quantitative part of the study, dependent and independent variable measurements…

Scientist-led K-12 outreach offers many benefits to scientists, teachers, and students; however, many of these programs are top down rather than collaborative. Our team facilitated a museum-based scientist-teacher partnership to co-design a lesson on shark biology for middle school students. Following the implementation of the lesson, we conducted…

Urban middle school students in the United States have shown a declining interest in science and poorer science learning outcomes compared to the past. Museum learning experiences can potentially improve these students' interest and learning in science through interactive, personalized exhibits. This qualitative action research study asked the…

Science teacher leaders have been identified as an important lever for the implementation of science education reform. However, science reform implementation is locally controlled and not uniform across districts; therefore, the work of STLs within a reform context can vary. In this descriptive case study, we explore the work of 11 science teacher…

This comprehensive study explores the experiences of underrepresented students who have participated in informal science education programs at the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH). Using qualitative methods, including interviews and participant observations, the research uncovers transformative insights shaping the educational landscape.…

Background: Museums have been paying an increasing attention to the design of experiences conducive to informal learning. While spontaneous inquiries in museums often pique visitors' intrinsic motivation to learn, certain structures or scaffolds are needed to facilitate sense making in museum learning. Two promising approaches are identified:…

Background: This study explored science teachers' participation in a professional development partnership with informal science institutions (ISIs) designed for urban middle school science teachers, known as the "Urban Advantage Science Initiative." The teacher training involved a whole school focused approach, providing teaching…

It is important to prepare middle level teacher candidates with the dispositions, content knowledge, and pedagogy needed to implement justice-oriented practices in middle level curriculum. This article explores using "Hateful Things," a traveling exhibit curated by the Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia, to integrate issues of…

Few investigations of museums have examined the potential of varying displays as related to learning outcomes. This study focused on two museum spaces, presenting different historical events and featuring different objects' characteristics and arrangements, as related to seventh- and eighth-graders' learning and experiences during a self-guided…

Background: Studies of group creativity have focused on adults acting in professional settings, with less attention paid to how adolescents collaborate in groups in creative activities. Building on sociocultural perspectives on imagination as a complex capacity in adolescence, this study examines students' creative-imagining processes and the role…

The purpose of the research is to examine the contributions and limitedness of virtual museum visits according to 7th grade students. Therefore, the research was conducted in accordance with the holistic single case study. The study group of the research was 14 students ranging in age from 11 to 12, determined by the criterion case sampling…

Our main goal in our study was to enable students to take an active role in teaching social studies. With the work done in the process, it was tried to raise awareness about museums and to explain how valuable museums are for a new perspective on education and most importantly for the social studies course. In our study, a 2X2 split-plot mixed…

Purpose: This paper aims to introduce and explores the use of electrodermal activity (EDA) data as a tool for obtaining data about youth engagement during maker learning activities. Design/methodology/approach: EDA and survey data were collected from a yearlong afterschool maker program for teens that met weekly and was hosted at a children's…