Project title
Developing Guidelines for Designing Challenging and Rewarding Interactive Science Exhibits (“Productive Struggle”)
Project Description
The Museum of Science, Boston, in collaboration with EdTogether, the University of Rochester, and CAST, are conducting a three-year Research in Service to Practice project, called Developing Guidelines for Designing Challenging and Rewarding Interactive Science Exhibits, to explore how informal science learning experiences can support visitors’ engagement in “productive struggle” — learning challenges that are exhilarating, challenging, intensive, and fruitful.
This project will systematically create:
- an empirically-tested theoretical model for productive struggle in informal science learning environments
- a refined set of 4 exhibits designed to elicit and support productive struggle
- a refined and tested set of design guidelines and strategies: Designing for Inclusive and lmpactful Productive Struggle
This project will deepen the value and impact of museums for a broad range of visitors by expanding the definition of what makes for an inclusive and effective informal science learning experience. By describing and investigating productive struggle and the exhibit designs that elicit and support it for a diverse range of visitors, and then developing design guidelines and approaches through a research-practice collaboration, this project will give rise to a rich and generative new set of tools and goals for informal science learning design.
Read the Designing for Productive Struggle Guide
Timeline
2017 – 2020
Funder
Partners
Boston Museum of Science
EdTogether
University of Rochester
Project Leadership
Christine Reich, Boston Museum of Science (PI)
Elizabeth Kunz Kollmann, Boston Museum of Science (Co-PI)
Gabrielle Rappolt-Schlichtmann, EdTogether (Co-PI)
Samantha Daley, University of Rochester (Co-Investigator)
Jose Blackorby, CAST (Co-PI)
Contact
For more information about this project, please contact Kim Ducharme.
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