CAISE Inquiry Groups

CAISE Inquiry Groups help to strengthen and connect the informal science education (ISE) community by catalyzing conversations across the field around issues and topics of common concern. Inquiry Groups meet together to examine and discuss an issue or set of questions, gather and analyze evidence from practice and research, and develop summaries and recommendations with three audiences in mind: the ISE field as a whole, principal investigators (PIs) and prospective PIs of NSF/ISE grants, and ISE funders. Inquiry Group reports are intended to yield practical knowledge; provide evidence of contributions of ISE; and identify areas where more work and investment are needed. Inquiry Groups are selected by the CAISE Executive Committee based on their promise of building the evidence for contributions of ISE, improving ISE practice, and informing grantmaking.

Among the topics studied to date have been public engagement in science programs, public participation in research, online professional communities, access to informal science education for people with disabilities, and collaborations between formal and informal STEM education. Reports are posted in the Resources section of the CAISE website and summarized in the CAISE Newsletter.

During 2009-2010, a three-pronged inquiry is underway with the goal of helping to produce a compelling, evidence-based picture of the informal science field today—the richly complex infrastructure that supports science learning outside of school, the policies that support and constrain opportunities in informal science education, and the nature of the learning that results across the lifespan and in many cultural settings.

• The Informal Science Education Infrastructure—John Falk of Oregon State University and Carlos Manjarrez of the Institute for Museum and Library Services are co-leading this group,which is investigating what's been called an “invisible infrastructure”—the rich diversity of places and pursuits that ignite our curiosity and support lifelong learning about science. The group is also launching a community-wide effort to collect stories that help build a portrait of “everyday science” today. Guidelines for collecting interviews and reporting results are here, and the interview guide is here.
• Informal Science Education Policy—Alan Friedman of the Visitor Studies Association and Saskia Traill of the After-School Corporation are co-leading this group, which will survey the landscape of policy isues that advance—or constrain—work in informal science education.
• Learning in Informal Settings—Co-led by Kevin Crowley of the University of Pittsburgh Center for Learning in Out-of-School Environments (UPCLOSE) and Philip Bell of the University of Washington, the CAISE Learning Inquiry Group is exploring the “six strands of learning” described in the National Research Council report Learning Science in Informal Environments: People, Places, and Pursuits.

You can get involved by participating in related online discussions in the CAISE Forum and at meetings and conferences, or serving as a contributor or reviewer. Contact CAISE staff or the Inquiry Group leaders for more information.