Recommended COSIA Textbooks: Surrounded by Science and Learning Science in Informal Environments
August 3, 2011 in COS Resource, Course and Workshop Materials, Course Materials
The National Academies Press published two books that we recommend to use as textbooks for Communicating Ocean Sciences to Informal Audiences. Surrounded by Science was written for informal educators and is appropriate for undergraduate students. Learning Science in Informal Environments is the research version of the book and is better suited for graduate students. Both books are available as free PDFs from the National Academies Press website.
Surrounded by Science
Fenichel, M. and Schweingruber, H. A. (2010). Surrounded by Science: Learning Science in Informal Environments. Washington, D.C.: National Academies Press.
Description from National Academies Press:
Practitioners in informal science settings—museums, after-school programs, science and technology centers, media enterprises, libraries, aquariums, zoos, and botanical gardens—are interested in finding out what learning looks like, how to measure it, and what they can do to ensure that people of all ages, from different backgrounds and cultures, have a positive learning experience.
Surrounded by Science: Learning Science in Informal Environments, is designed to make that task easier. Based on the National Research Council study, Learning Science in Informal Environments: People, Places, and Pursuits, this book is a tool that provides case studies, illustrative examples, and probing questions for practitioners. In short, this book makes valuable research accessible to those working in informal science: educators, museum professionals, university faculty, youth leaders, media specialists, publishers, broadcast journalists, and many others.
Download a PDF of the book from National Academies Press.
Learning Science in Informal Environments: People, Places, and Pursuits
Bell, P., Lewenstein, B., Shouse, A. W., and Feder, M. A. (Eds.). (2009). Learning Science in Informal Environments: People, Places, and Pursuits. Washington, D.C.: National Academies Press.
Description from National Academies Press:
Informal science is a burgeoning field that operates across a broad range of venues and envisages learning outcomes for individuals, schools, families, and society. The evidence base that describes informal science, its promise, and effects is informed by a range of disciplines and perspectives, including field-based research, visitor studies, and psychological and anthropological studies of learning.
Learning Science in Informal Environments draws together disparate literatures, synthesizes the state of knowledge, and articulates a common framework for the next generation of research on learning science in informal environments across a life span. Contributors include recognized experts in a range of disciplines—research and evaluation, exhibit designers, program developers, and educators. They also have experience in a range of settings—museums, after-school programs, science and technology centers, media enterprises, aquariums, zoos, state parks, and botanical gardens.
Learning Science in Informal Environments is an invaluable guide for program and exhibit designers, evaluators, staff of science-rich informal learning institutions and community-based organizations, scientists interested in educational outreach, federal science agency education staff, and K-12 science educators.
Download a PDF of the book from National Academies Press.
