Comparing
Scientists And Educator "Cultures"
Andrew Fraknoi
Chair of the Astronomy Department at Foothill College and
Executive Director Emeritus of the Astronomical Society of
the Pacific
Scientists and educators live in different cultures and
perhaps in different universes. Knowing these differences
can help us tremendously in setting up programs that link
scientists to educational projects. Some of these
differences include the use of jargon, a sense of
expertise, patience with beginners, expectations of
adequate resources and tools, having assistants, time for
contemplation, and international versus local concerns.
What motivates visitors is inextricably connected to
visitors' prior beliefs, personal context and role played
during the visit. The key to ISE institutions successfully
facilitating current science learning for the majority of
their visitors is figuring out how to make current science
an appropriate learning goal for all types of visitors.
