Research Article
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Opinions and Understandings of Science Center Visitors About Exhibits and Labels

Year 2021, Volume: 8 Issue: 1, 232 - 247, 01.01.2021
https://doi.org/10.17275/per.21.13.8.1

Abstract

In this study, it is aimed to determine the opinions and understandings of the visitors coming to the science center, which is an informal learning environment, about the exhibits and labels. For this purpose, the opinions of the visitors about the exhibits and labels, their understanding of the exhibits and labels were examined. The research is qualitatively oriented. The data were collected through semi-structured interviews. The study group of the research consists of 95 people visiting Kocaeli Science Center between October 2017 and December 2018. In the analysis of the data, content analysis was used. It was determined that the visitors found the exhibits beautiful and interesting, generally noticed the labels and read them. These visitors stated that the labels should be more colorful, remarkable, more easily understandable, their fonts should be bigger and the narration of the label could be supported with visual elements. The vast majority of the visitors stated that they understood what was told in the exhibit, but when asked what they understood, it was seen that the majority of them did not understood it, some of them only described how to use the exhibit. It is thought that the findings will contribute to the literature regarding the science centers.

Thanks

We thank to Kocaeli Science Center for their support.

References

  • Allen, S. & Gutwill, J. P. (2010). Creating a program to deepen family inquiry at interactive science exhibits. Curator: The Museum Journal, 52(3), 289-306.
  • Allen, S. (2004). Designs for learning: Studying science museum exhibits that do more than entertain. Science Education, 88(1), 17-33.
  • Bitgood, S. (2000). The role of attention in designing effective interpretive labels. Journal of Interpretation Research, 5(2), 31-45.
  • Caulton, T. (1998). Hands-On Exhibits: Managing Interactive Museums And Science Centres. New York: Routledge.
  • Cox-Petersen, A. M., Marsh, D. D., Kisiel, J. & Melber, L. M. (2003). Investigation of guided school tours, student learning, and science reform recommendations at a museum of natural history. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 40(2), 200-218.
  • Eshach, H. (2007). Bridging in-school and out-of-school learning: formal, non-formal, and informal education. Journal of Science Education and Technology, 16(2), 171-190.
  • Falk, J. H. & Dierking, L. D. (1997). School field trips: assessing their long‐term impact. Curator: The Museum Journal, 40(3), 211-218.
  • Falk, J. H. & Dierking, L. D. (2016). The Museum Experience Revisited. New York: Routledge.
  • Falk, J. H. & Gillespie, K. L. (2009). Investigating the role of emotion in science center visitor learning. Visitor Studies, 12(2), 112-132.
  • Falk, J. H. (1997). Testing a museum exhibit design assumption: effect of explicit labeling of exhibit clusters on visitor concept development. Science Education, 81(6), 679-687.
  • Gilbert, J. K. & Stocklmayer, S. (2001). The design of interactive exhibits to promote the making of meaning. Museum Management and Curatorship, 19(1), 41-50.
  • Guisasola, J., Morentin, M. & Zuza, K. (2005). School visits to science museums and learning sciences: A complex relationship. Physics Education, 40(6), 544.
  • Gutwill, J. P. & Allen, S. (2009). Facilitating family group inquiry at science museum exhibits. Science Education, 94(4), 710-742.
  • Hakverdi-Can, M. (2013). İlköğretim öğrencilerinin bilim merkezindeki deney setleri hakkındaki görüşleri ve öğrenme. Hacettepe Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, Özel Sayı (1), 219-229.
  • Hohenstein, J. & Tran, L. U. (2007). Use of questions in exhibit labels to generate explanatory conversation among science museum visitors. International Journal of Science Education, 29(12), 1557-1580.
  • McManus, P. M. (1990). Watch your language! People do read labels. ILVS Review, 1, 2.
  • Patton, M. Q. (2014). Nitel Araştirma ve Değerlendirme Yöntemleri. M. Bütün ve S. B. Demir (Çev. Ed.). Ankara: Pegem Akademi. Ramey-Gassert, L. (1997). Learning science beyond the classroom. The Elementary School Journal, 97(4).
  • Rennie, L. J. & Williams, G. F. (2006). Adults’ learning about science in free‐choice settings. International Journal of Science Education, 28(8), 871-893.
  • Screven (1992). Motivating visitors to read labels. ILVS Review, 2(2), 183-221.
  • Wellington, J. (1990). Formal and informal learning in science: The role of the interactive science centres. Physics Education, 25(5), 247.
  • Yaşar, E. & Gürel, C. (2016). Science Museum Exhibits’ Summative Evaluation with Knowledge Hierarchy Method. European Journal of Physics Education, 7(1), 1309-7202.
Year 2021, Volume: 8 Issue: 1, 232 - 247, 01.01.2021
https://doi.org/10.17275/per.21.13.8.1

Abstract

References

  • Allen, S. & Gutwill, J. P. (2010). Creating a program to deepen family inquiry at interactive science exhibits. Curator: The Museum Journal, 52(3), 289-306.
  • Allen, S. (2004). Designs for learning: Studying science museum exhibits that do more than entertain. Science Education, 88(1), 17-33.
  • Bitgood, S. (2000). The role of attention in designing effective interpretive labels. Journal of Interpretation Research, 5(2), 31-45.
  • Caulton, T. (1998). Hands-On Exhibits: Managing Interactive Museums And Science Centres. New York: Routledge.
  • Cox-Petersen, A. M., Marsh, D. D., Kisiel, J. & Melber, L. M. (2003). Investigation of guided school tours, student learning, and science reform recommendations at a museum of natural history. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 40(2), 200-218.
  • Eshach, H. (2007). Bridging in-school and out-of-school learning: formal, non-formal, and informal education. Journal of Science Education and Technology, 16(2), 171-190.
  • Falk, J. H. & Dierking, L. D. (1997). School field trips: assessing their long‐term impact. Curator: The Museum Journal, 40(3), 211-218.
  • Falk, J. H. & Dierking, L. D. (2016). The Museum Experience Revisited. New York: Routledge.
  • Falk, J. H. & Gillespie, K. L. (2009). Investigating the role of emotion in science center visitor learning. Visitor Studies, 12(2), 112-132.
  • Falk, J. H. (1997). Testing a museum exhibit design assumption: effect of explicit labeling of exhibit clusters on visitor concept development. Science Education, 81(6), 679-687.
  • Gilbert, J. K. & Stocklmayer, S. (2001). The design of interactive exhibits to promote the making of meaning. Museum Management and Curatorship, 19(1), 41-50.
  • Guisasola, J., Morentin, M. & Zuza, K. (2005). School visits to science museums and learning sciences: A complex relationship. Physics Education, 40(6), 544.
  • Gutwill, J. P. & Allen, S. (2009). Facilitating family group inquiry at science museum exhibits. Science Education, 94(4), 710-742.
  • Hakverdi-Can, M. (2013). İlköğretim öğrencilerinin bilim merkezindeki deney setleri hakkındaki görüşleri ve öğrenme. Hacettepe Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, Özel Sayı (1), 219-229.
  • Hohenstein, J. & Tran, L. U. (2007). Use of questions in exhibit labels to generate explanatory conversation among science museum visitors. International Journal of Science Education, 29(12), 1557-1580.
  • McManus, P. M. (1990). Watch your language! People do read labels. ILVS Review, 1, 2.
  • Patton, M. Q. (2014). Nitel Araştirma ve Değerlendirme Yöntemleri. M. Bütün ve S. B. Demir (Çev. Ed.). Ankara: Pegem Akademi. Ramey-Gassert, L. (1997). Learning science beyond the classroom. The Elementary School Journal, 97(4).
  • Rennie, L. J. & Williams, G. F. (2006). Adults’ learning about science in free‐choice settings. International Journal of Science Education, 28(8), 871-893.
  • Screven (1992). Motivating visitors to read labels. ILVS Review, 2(2), 183-221.
  • Wellington, J. (1990). Formal and informal learning in science: The role of the interactive science centres. Physics Education, 25(5), 247.
  • Yaşar, E. & Gürel, C. (2016). Science Museum Exhibits’ Summative Evaluation with Knowledge Hierarchy Method. European Journal of Physics Education, 7(1), 1309-7202.
There are 21 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Other Fields of Education
Journal Section Research Articles
Authors

Canan Laçin Şimşek 0000-0001-9050-1842

Meltem Öztürk 0000-0002-1544-8479

Publication Date January 1, 2021
Acceptance Date August 29, 2020
Published in Issue Year 2021 Volume: 8 Issue: 1

Cite

APA Laçin Şimşek, C., & Öztürk, M. (2021). Opinions and Understandings of Science Center Visitors About Exhibits and Labels. Participatory Educational Research, 8(1), 232-247. https://doi.org/10.17275/per.21.13.8.1