Guiding Inquiry-learning: the Core Functions of Science Centres Educators Long Jinjing

Introduction PART 1: A brief review to the evolution of the educator's function as well as the educational philosophy in science centers of the world TWO PARTS PART 2: the practice of China in the educators core functions transformation

About the questions……

Part 1:Rule of the Development Educational philosophy evolution Educational functions adaption Educator’s core functions variation Learn from the history: Nature history museum Science & Industry museum Discovery palace in Paris Exploratorium in USA

Stage1: Start-up period for science centers Time: late 19th and early 20th century Social background: The rapid development of capitalist industrial production, a large number of skilled Workers in urgent need Educational philosophy advocated: "progressive education movement" based on Pragmatic philosophy The most representative educationist thought: Dewey, Learning by doing, Focus on training the ability to adapt to the reality of life, pay attention to the direct experience of learning John. Dewey

Stage1: Start-up period for science centers The changes of the science museums: In 1907, the Deutsches Museum first attempt to change: some industrial machinery is dissected, opened and run; In 1937, "Discovery Palace" in Paris was built up, hands-on interactive exhibits taking place all static displays; Adjustment in teaching methods: Teaching-Commentary + stimulus-response The educator’s core functions at that time: Demonstrate exhibits and explain to the public, guide the audience to observe, answer their questions Interactive exhibits Interaction and Communication Interactive exhibits Interaction and Communication

Stage2: Rapid development period for science centers Time: 1960s~1980s Social background: the first science education reform in US, aim to foster scientific elite (scientists and technical experts) to enhance the national strength Educational philosophy advocated: Against the life adapt and emphasize science curriculum structured and theorization The most representative educationist thought: Bruner and Schwab, Discovery learning and Inquiry learning, Focus on guiding students as scientists to discover the truth, enable students to become discoverers. Jerome S. Bruner

Stage2: Rapid development period for science centers The changes of the science museums: Adjustment in teaching methods: Stimulate public interest in exploring science through a variety of activities, pay more attention on the inquiry process and cultivating the basic inquiry skills The educator’s core functions at that time: Deeper theoretical thinking and curriculum design; Guide the audience to observe, record, measure, imagine, explain and so on, to enhance their scientific skills; Living show Lab curriculum Science club Experiment Many kinds of educational activities is produced

Stage3: Modern science centers Time: 1980s to now Social background: the second Science Education Reform in US, the 2061 plan, Emphasis on “scientific inquiry”, aimed at the public understanding of science Educational philosophy advocated: Constructivism Inquiry Learning The most representative educationist thought: On the basis of understanding the original concept of the audience has been formed, to help them constantly revised and expanded their own conceptual scheme, enhance the ability to apply scientific concepts Inquiry learning

Stage3: Modern science centers The changes of the science museums: Courses and activities designed in Science Center are following the "National Science Education Standards", around the core concepts of science; Adjustment in teaching methods: Taking the Constructivism as guidance, focus on the core scientific concepts learning, design various forms of teaching activities The educator’s core functions at that time: Guide the audience to use a variety of scientific inquiry skills to build a core concept Directed by the NGSS

Part 2:The Practice of China

 Status of the Science Center’s educator in China 350 in total 75% small size(no educators) 100 In good run 7000 employees 50% educators Building size Educators take up the most massive rate, the location of the core functions of teaching staffs will show a direct impact on the educational effects of the Science Centers.

 Status of the Science Center’s educator in China Only 30% undergraduate or above less than 50% majored in science or engineering less than 10% staffs majored in education The educators in science centers in china may have low professional level. The reason is that the educators in Science Centers have long been positioned as a tour guide or explainer, just do some simple tasks, which make China Science centers suffered a lot of difficulties in the development and promotion on a high level education. Education background

What’s the outstanding characteristic of science centers that is different from other educational institutions? What’s the outstanding characteristic of science centers that is different from other educational institutions? What are the core functions of the Science Center Educators? What are the core functions of the Science Center Educators?  Self-examination of the Science Center’s educator

About Outstanding characteristics of science centers education In school, the main purpose is a systematic study of scientific knowledge, learning from books; In museum, to realize the human understanding of nature and technology achievements in different periods of natural transformation, learning from historical static display and demonstration; In science center, to establish a scientific worldview, learning from interactive exhibits by themselves. Gain direct experience in practice;

The most unique educational resource: The outstanding characteristics of the hands-on exhibits: The Practice ; Inquiry Learning; Direct Experience What the exhibits evolve from? Evolved by science laboratory equipment, production tools, natural and scientific phenomena in life; to provide the material conditions for viewers to explore inquiry learning, and to gain direct experience. Hand-on Exhibits

PROFESSION -Facing the audience at all levels, from childhood to old age; -Undertaking the task of teaching various subjects, giving explanation, -Doing science experiment, giving a show or performance and so on; -Being familiar with using different teaching methods; -Developing various educational materials, lesson plans and even teaching aids. Professional Teacher Guiding inquiry Duty About the core functions of Science Centers educator

Counselor Competition  The exploring practice in china The first National Science Center Counselor Competition in 2009

there is no clear description for judge criteria. Question: Most judges based on their first impression to score, the external personal temperament, language fluency, the affinity are often the major factors in evaluation, but the topic content and teaching strategies adopted by the educators are usually ignored. the content, the language, the image the content, the language, the image 2009,2011,2013

What is the most important? Exploring: Taking innovation on the speech content and educational methods. After six years exploration, we consider that "guide the audience to rely on exhibits to do inquiry activities" should be the core functions of educators.

1.Based on exhibits phenomena and running processes, to guide the audience to explore the exhibits by themselves. 2.to stimulate their interest in science. 3.to inspire the audience using scientific methods to think. 4.Target audience: teenagers group or individual visitor or geek 5.Using different teaching methods to different people speech content, educational methods