This project will evaluate the informal science education impact of encouraging visitors to wildlife centers (zoos, aquariums, botanical gardens, natural science museums, etc.) to carry digital journals through which they can access multimedia content and expert commentary about wildlife habitats, while recording their own thoughts and personal observations about wildlife activities that can potentially be shared with other visitors in the museum and online. The intended audience impacts are three-fold:
By accessing multimedia content and expert commentary about museum wildlife (in the museum and online), visitors will increase their knowledge of natural science, habitats, and wildlife, and learn more about the characteristics and behaviors of the animals and plants they observe.
By maintaining a digital record of their own personal observations of wildlife activities (in the museum and online), visitors will recognize the value and fun of extending the learning experience beyond the boundaries of the traditional on-site museum visit and improve their ability to incorporate personal experiences into the larger informal science education learning process.
By contributing participant observations that can be shared with other visitors (in the museum and online), visitors will increase their understanding of the value of observing and documenting scientific phenomena, and recognize the benefits of sharing information with others pursuing informal learning experiences in wildlife centers.