The document discusses a session focusing on engaging visitors in science, art, and children's museums through inquiry-based learning. It presents findings from research on visitor inquiry skills at exhibits, highlighting the effectiveness of a 'juicy question' format in promoting collaboration and deeper understanding. The session included presentations and group activities aimed at improving inquiry skills among visitors, particularly families and field trip groups.

1. Drawing Visitors In: Engaging Visitors in Science, Art & Children’s Museums Julie Charles - SFMOMA Tsivia Cohen - Chicago Children’s Museum Josh Gutwill - Exploratorium

2. Session structure 3 short presentations + Q&A Small groups to try out one program Whole group Discussion / Q&A

3. Fostering Inquiry in Science Museums Josh Gutwill Acting Director Exploratorium Visitor Research & Evaluation

4. Context: Exhibit Design SMM Experiment Benches Exploratorium APE MOS, Boston Investigate! PISEC study

5. G roup I nquiry by V isitors at E xhibits National Science Foundation Funded by

6. Group Inquiry by Visitors at Exhibits Sue Allen Craig Anderson Mark Boccuzzi Fay Dearborn Beth Gardner Josh Gutwill Malia Jackson Adam Klinger Nerissa Kuebrich Suzy Loper Kathy McLean Lisa Sindorf Erin Wilson

7. Research questions Is it possible to explicitly teach visitors a useful set of inquiry skills? Can we help groups work together?

8. Which Inquiry Skills? Questioning Investigating Explaining Using Evidence Problem solving Reflecting Propose Action Interpret Results Designing Experiment

9. Format: Juicy Question Game Play with Exhibit Do the Experiment Brainstorm “ Juicy Questions” Ask more “ Juicy Questions” Interpret Results

11. Framework for Analysis • Do visitors use the 2 skills at a new exhibit? • Does the quality of inquiry improve? • Do visitors work together more? Direct coding of video:

12. Results Juicy Question families: Make almost twice as many interpretations Build explanations more collaboratively Conduct more linked investigations

13. Example of Group Inquiry Watch for: Inquiry skills Propose Action Interpret Results Learning from each other Building on interpretations

15. Aspects of Group Inquiry Inquiry skills Boy asks juicy Q All make interp Building explanations Coherent inquiry

16. Conclusions memorable format learnable in ~20 mins worked for family groups (8+) worked for field trip groups, too led to better inquiry Juicy Question: www.exploratorium.edu/partner/give