The Effectiveness of Science on a Sphere Stories to Improve Climate Literacy Among the General Public

• Published in: Journal of geoscience education Vol. 62; no. 3; pp. 485 - 494
• Main Authors: Schollaert Uz, Stephanie, Ackerman, Wendy, O'Leary, Jim, Culbertson, Britta, Rowley, Patrick, Arkin, Phillip A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bellingham National Association of Geoscience Teachers 02.09.2014; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Climate; Climate science; Earth science; Educational Change; Exhibits; Informal Education; Learning; Literacy; Museums; Public Opinion; Science On a Sphere; Scientific Concepts; Scientists; Students; Teaching Methods; Video Technology
• ISSN: 1089-9995; 2158-1428
• DOI: 10.5408/13-075.1

Engaging the general public on climate topics and deepening their understanding of key discoveries by the Earth science community requires a collaborative approach between scientists, developers, and museum educators to converge on the most effective format. Large Science On a Sphere (SOS) displays of Earth attract attention to global data at museums worldwide, yet just looking at raw data does not generally lead to new insights by the public. Working closely with the Maryland Science Center, the EarthNow project realized the time limitations of the museum staff and audience and began creating short, narrated videos for SOS. The videos introduce recent climate science findings on a variety of topics and can be used as part of live, facilitated programs or played while SOS is in its autorun mode. To measure the effectiveness of the delivery method, we developed a survey and tested several groups that saw a video within a live show compared to groups that saw it in autorun without a live program. We also wondered whether adding a hands-on activity would enhance learning and how hearing the information while doing an activity would compare to watching and hearing the SOS show, so we tested two large groups using the activity with and without seeing Science On a Sphere. Overall survey results demonstrate the groups who saw an SOS show gained certain concepts better than the group that only heard the information while doing the activity. The live shows conferred a slight but not substantial advantage over the autorun shows. Playing short, narrated videos on SOS that include global Earth processes, such as atmospheric and oceanic circulation, seems to enhance understanding of certain concepts more than hearing the information while doing an activity. Ongoing communication with museums and their visitors is critical for ensuring that these stories are as effective as possible and make best use of the strengths of the Science On a Sphere exhibit to enhance the public's climate literacy.