Share Paper: Capitalizing on Informal Learning Opportunities to Enhance Formal Learning in Classroom Environments

  1. Gerald Knezek, University of North Texas, United States
  2. Rhonda Christensen, University of North Texas, United States
Friday, March 30 10:45 AM-11:15 AM Edison A

Abstract: Three middle school sites are compared to assess the measured impact of informal space science education activities on science content knowledge, enthusiasm for an event such as a total solar eclipse, and longer-term dispositions toward space science and a solar eclipse. The space science camp intervention of the treatment group resulted in the greatest overall gains, pre to post, and preserved most of these gains three months later in a follow up assessment. However, analysis of comparison data produced context-enriching findings as well, including that school-based preparation of middle school students for an event such as a solar eclipse, by ...