Practical Evaluation Guide: Tools for Museums and Other Informal Educational Settings

by Judy Diamond, Michael Horn, David H. Uttal

Administrators of museums and other informal-learning centers often need to demonstrate, in some tangible way, the effectiveness of their institutions as teaching tools. Practical Evaluation Guide discusses specific methods for analyzing audience learning and behavior in museums, zoos, botanic gardens, nature centers, camps, and youth programs. Evaluation is essential because it allows you to answer critical questions like: -How can one measure the impacts of educational experiences in a museum, zoo, or aquarium? -Are digital technologies more effective than traditional exhibits for enhancing visitor interest and understanding? -How does one measure learning in these informal environments where visitors themselves decide what they will experience? -Since we know many visitors come to informal institutions for social interaction and play, how does one access these social impacts? The Practical Evaluation Guide is an all-in-one resource to guide professionals working in museums and other informal educational institutions. This new edition includes updates throughout and features a brand-new chapter on evaluating digital interactive exhibits. The section on observational tools includes a new section on using video recordings and the section on interviews includes recent studies from countries outside the U.S. Practical Evaluation Guide serves as a basic, easy-to-follow guide for museum professionals and students who want to understand the effects of such public institutions on the people who visit them.

Genres: Museums, Education, Museology

162 pages, Hardcover

First published February 9, 1999

Reviews

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a solid, step-by-step guide to evaluating exhibits and other educational efforts at museums, historic sites, nature centers, etc. It coverswork prior to creating the exhibit, during the construction and after it is done. Many of the methods are really designed for larger institutions with larger budgets, which accounts for the middle rationg.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a solid, easy-to-understand overview of the basic components that comprise museum evaluation. I read it in conjunction with my Intro to Evaluation course and it's concise descriptions really helped me understand my 3 hours of weekly lecture information.

[allison · Rating 3 out of 5]

very simple, informative guide to evaluate the museum visitor experience! gave me a very basic understanding, even if it’s a bit dated in the current year. makes me want to look at the current literature and use the fundamentals covered in this book with recent research/technological developments!

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're looking for theory of evaluation, it's not here. "Practical Guide" is exactly what it is. A step-by-step guide to doing an evaluation in an informal educational setting. Much of what I read I already knew, through common sense and other reading. But as a researcher, I like to have my common sense put down in logical form on paper - and if someone else has already done it, great!

[Elizabeth Bostelman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was great as an introduction to the process of evaluation! I will definitely keep it on my shelf as a resource!