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The National Science Foundation has provided significant funding for initiatives in informal science education to the
New Jersey
Academy
for Aquatic Sciences...
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...in collaboration with the three other major science museums in the Greater Philadelphia region - the Franklin Institute, the
Academy
of
Natural Sciences.
and the Philadelphia Zoo.
These four institutions joined in formal partnership as the Philadelphia/Camden Informal Science Education Collaborative (PISEC).
NSF funded PISEC to conduct the Family Science Learning Project (ISE-9355504), a research and application project from July, 1994 through November, 1998, with an award of $616,051. The project addressed three questions:
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1)
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How can we identify and measure family learning? |
2)
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Is there a connection between family learning and specific exhibit characteristics? |
3)
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How can we change exhibits to enhance or promote family learning?
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The Family Science Learning Project enhanced family learning at museum exhibits and generated the following publications:
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Borun, M., Cleghorn, A., and Garfield, C. (1995). Family learning in museums: A bibliographic review. Curator, 38 (4), 262-270
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Borun, M., Chambers, M., and Cleghorn, A. (1996). Families are learning in science museums.
Curator, 39 (2) 123-138. |
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Borun, M.& Dritsas, J. (1997). Developing family-friendly exhibits. Curator, 40(3), 178-196 |
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Borun, M., Chambers, M., Dritsas, J., and Johnson, J. (1997). Enhancing family learning
through exhibits. Curator, 40 (4), 279-295.
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In the second PISEC initiative, the museums recognized that the ethnic and racial makeup of their visitor admissions did not yet reflect the demographics of the population in
Philadelphia
and
Camden.
A project called Community Connections was created to forge partnerships with eight community-based organizations in
Philadelphia
and
Camden
to promote museum-based learning for traditionally under-represented families, with The Pew Charitable Trusts as the major program sponsor.
Over three program years, more than 2,000 families participated in behind-the-scenes projects, family nights and other activities to establish a more intimate connection and involvement with the museums. Participating community-based organizations included: African Episcopal Church of St Thomas;
Camden
City
School District
;
Cobbs
Creek
Community
Environmental
Education
Center
;
Ivy
Leaf
School
; Norris Square Neighborhood Project; Rutgers University Project LEAP; West Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce; West Philadelphia Partnership; and Youth Service Inc.
Community Connections increased the participation of community families at the PISEC museums. A handbook was published to serve as a guide to museums nationally to encourage and demystify outreach efforts to underserved community families:
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Wagner, K.F., Borun, M., Ferraro, J.M., and Johnson, J. (2000) WorkingTogether Museums and Community Partners. PISEC,
Philadelphia.
PA.
Working Together is dedicated to the memory of Jean M. Ferraro, 1972-2000.
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