Mid-America Science Museum

THE MID-AMERICA SCIENCE MUSEUM WILL BUILD CAPACITY OF STAFF TO USE EVALUATION AS AN ONGOING CYCLE OF INQUIRY WHEN CREATING OR IMPROVING MUSEUM PROGRAMS AND EXHIBITS. PROJECT ACTIVITIES INCLUDE HIRING AN EXPERT CONSULTANT TO TRAIN STAFF ON EVALUATIONS. AS PART OF THIS TRAINING, DEPARTMENTAL TEAMS WILL WORK WITH THE CONSULTANT TO CONDUCT EVALUATION STUDIES ON PROGRAMS AND EXHIBITS TO GAIN PRACTICE IN DEVELOPING GOALS, DESIGNING DATA COLLECTION INSTRUMENTS, AND ANALYZING INFORMATION. AS A RESULT OF THE PROJECT, STAFF WILL HAVE DEVELOPED THE SKILLS NEEDED TO IMPLEMENT AND SUSTAIN A CONSISTENT EVALUATION PRACTICE THAT WILL INSTILL A CULTURE OF EVALUATION WITHIN THE INSTITUTION FOR THE LONG-TERM BENEFIT OF THE MUSEUM AND FUTURE VISITORS.

"MID-AMERICA SCIENCE MUSEUM WILL IMPLEMENT A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR ITS EDUCATION STAFF AND THOSE FROM MEMBER MUSEUMS OF THE ARKANSAS DISCOVERY NETWORK. MUSEUM STAFFERS WILL PARTICIPATE IN A SERIES OF THREE DAY-LONG WORKSHOPS ON ROBOTICS, APP DEVELOPMENT, AND MICROPROCESSORS. WORKSHOP FOLLOW-UP WILL BE IN THE FORM OF STRATEGICALLY SCHEDULED INTERNET-BASED MEETINGS, AN ONLINE COMMUNITY, AND VARIOUS METHODS OF EVALUATION. THE PROGRAM WILL PROVIDE UP-TO-DATE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING IN NEWER TECHNOLOGIES FOR EDUCATORS IN THE MUSEUM AND FROM ACROSS ARKANSAS. TRAINING WILL ENCOURAGE THESE EDUCATORS TO DEVELOP THEIR OWN ACTIVITIES TO INCREASE AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT AND USE MODERN TECHNOLOGY TO CREATE POWERFUL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR TEACHERS. THE PROJECT WILL ADVANCE THE MUSEUM'S STRATEGIC GOAL OF BEING A LEADER IN INFORMAL SCIENCE EDUCATION AND CREATING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR MUSEUM EDUCATORS ACROSS THE REGION."

NATIONAL AWARD FOR MUSEUM SERVICE