Researching Science Learning Outside the Classroom

Although science continues to be a key subject in the education of the majority of young people throughout the world, it is becoming increasingly clear that school science is failing to win the hearts and minds of many of today's younger generation. Researchers have begun to look at ways in which the learning that takes place in museums, science centres and other informal settings can add value to science learning in schools. Four case studies are used to illustrate the potential afforded by informal contexts to research aspects of science learning. The case studies involve: the European Union PENCIL (Permanent European Resource Centre for Informal Learning) project (a network of 14 museums and science centres working with schools to enhance learning in maths and science); a large natural history museum in England; the Tate Modernart gallery in London, and the Outdoor Classroom Action Research Project which involved researchers working in school grounds, field centres and farms. The range of research questions that were asked are examined as are the methodological approaches taken and the methods used to collect and analyse data. Lessons learned from the studies about research in the informal contexts are discussed critically.