Bridging Neuroscience and Education Through Museum-School Partnerships

Graphical Abstract

The Franklin Institute provides programs that help educators of all disciplines understand the key ideas and recommendations for enhanced teaching practices based on new research from the field of neuroscience.

Abstract

The connections among neuroscience, educational research, and teaching practice have historically been tenuous (Cameron and Chudler 2003; Devonshire and Dommett 2010). This is particularly true in public schools, where so many issues are competing for attention—state testing, school politics, financial constraints, lack of time, and demands from parents and the surrounding community. Teachers and administrators often struggle to make use of advances in educational research to impact teaching and learning (Hardiman and Denckla 2009; Devonshire and Dommett 2010). At the Franklin Institute, we have developed a model that integrates expertise in understanding and communicating research with teaching practice, supported by relevant science content and museum exhibits, to provide rich professional development (PD) opportunities for K–12 educators across disciplines. These programs help educators of all disciplines understand the key ideas and recommendations for enhanced teaching practices based on new research from the field of neuroscience. Evaluation results show that educators find high value in evidence-based information, strategies, and informal hands-on experiences that can be broadly applied to teaching across multiple subject areas and ages.

Keywords:

• Professional Learning old
• STEM
• Informal Education

Acknowledgments

This work was funded in part by the NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience Research under grant 1R25DA033023-01. We also thank Dr. David Baugh and the Bensalem Township School District for their partnership in piloting these programs and Alexis Kiesel for her review of the document.

Author Contributions

Dale McCreedy ([email protected]) is vice president of audience and community engagement at the Discovery Center at Murfree Spring in Murfreesboro, Tennesee.

Jayatri Das ([email protected]) is Chief Bioscientist at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Julia Skolnik ([email protected]) is Manager and Curriculum Specialist at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Dale McCreedy

Dale McCreedy ([email protected]) is vice president of audience and community engagement at the Discovery Center at Murfree Spring in Murfreesboro, Tennesee.

Jayatri Das

Jayatri Das ([email protected]) is Chief Bioscientist at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Julia Skolnik

Julia Skolnik ([email protected]) is Manager and Curriculum Specialist at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.