Learning in Science Museums: the young visitor to the Museum of Microbiology

• Grant number: 08/55202-9
• Support Opportunities: Science Centers in the State of São Paulo Research Program
• Start date: January 01, 2009
• End date: January 31, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Applied Social Sciences - Museology
• Agreement: VITAE
• Principal Investigator: Milene Tino De Franco
• Grantee: Milene Tino De Franco
• Host Institution: Instituto Butantan. Secretaria da Saúde (São Paulo - Estado). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

It is well known that children under 07 represent a significant proportion of the visitors to science museums. This project aims to outline the educational and communication strategies that could be developed to bring this public closer to scientific culture. Phase I consists in examining the conceptions that 4-6-year-old children have of microorganisms and their environment, thus allowing the development of adequate methodology for enlightening these children about the subject in the Phase II (interviews, data collection, videotape documentation, etc), which aims at improving the field of research on teaching and learning in museums as well as at enriching educational practices and scientific diffusion of these institutions. (AU)