[CS] CS WEDNESDAY NOON TALK, Wednesday, March 12 by Tim Zimmerman, *"Making the case for better non-formal educator preparation, " in the ASH Lobby at Noon

[Paula Harmon]

Tim Zimmerman, Visiting Assistant Professor of Cognition and Education
CS WEDNESDAY NOON TALK, March 12 in the ASH Lobby

"Making the case for better non-formal educator preparation"

Abstract: Considerable time, energy, and research funding is expended on 
preparing K-12 teachers for their role as educators in our compulsory, 
"formal" classroom-based educational system.  Yet these are not the only 
educators we encounter throughout our lives.  Rob Semper, Executive 
Associate Director at the Exploratorium museum in San Francisco, often 
cites the statistic that we spend 10% of our lives in "formal" 
educational settings. Of course, as he notes, this means we spend 90% of 
our lives not in "formal" educational settings, often interacting with 
people in educator roles such as museum docents, tour guides, 
environmental educators, and natural and cultural resource 
interpreters.  And yet, few of these educators have taken courses in 
learning theory or pedagogical practice.  I argue that providing 
theoretical grounding and pedagogical practice for non-formal educators 
is crucial to improving learning that happens outside classroom walls.  
In this interactive talk, we'll explore examples, collaboratively 
generate connections to ideas in cognitive science, and consider the 
role Hampshire College can play in this important arena.

Biographical:   Timothy (Tim) D. Zimmerman received a B.S. in biology 
and marine biology from the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, an 
M.S. in marine biology from the College of Charleston, and a Ph.D. in 
science education from the University of California, Berkeley. He 
researches ocean and environmental science learning in non-school 
contexts (museums, outdoors, etc.) and its relationship to environmental 
decision-making. Tim combines qualitative, quantitative and design-based 
research methodologies to study learners as they move across 
informal-formal learning context boundaries.  When not in the office, 
you can find him exploring outdoors, hiking with his partner and 
daughter, rock climbing or making beer at home.

In The ASH Lobby
A light lunch will be available at noon
-- 
Paula Harmon, Administrative Assistant
School of Cognitive Science
Hampshire College
893 West Street Amherst, MA 01002
phone: 413.559.5502
fax: 413.559.5438
http://cs.hampshire.edu
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