Community laboratories in the United States: BioMakerspaces for life science learning.
Public Underst Sci
; 32(4): 442-458, 2023 05.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-36515486
ABSTRACT
Informal learning environments play a critical role in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics learning across the lifespan and are consequential in informing public understanding and engagement. This can be difficult to accomplish in life science where expertise thresholds and logistics involved with handling biological materials can restrict access. Community laboratories are informal learning environments that provide access to the resources necessary to carry out pursuits using enabling biotechnologies. We investigate a group of these spaces in order to ascertain how this occurs-with specific attention to how material and intellectual resources are structured and shape learning. Using surveys and focus group interviews, we explore a group of these spaces located in the United States. We found that the spaces examined offer learning activities that are sufficiently scaffolded and flexible as to promote personalized and community-driven practice. We discuss these findings in relation to informal learning environment design and learning.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Science
/
Biological Science Disciplines
Type of study:
Qualitative_research
Country/Region as subject:
America do norte
Language:
En
Journal:
Public Underst Sci
Journal subject:
CIENCIA
/
HISTORIA DA MEDICINA
Year:
2023
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
United States