Alignment between informal educator perceptions and audience expectations of climate change education. Issue 4 (2nd October 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Stylinski, Cathlyn; Heimlich, Joe; Palmquist, Sasha; Wasserman, Deborah; Youngs, Renae
• Is Part Of: Applied environmental education and communication. Volume 16:Issue 4(2017)
• Page Start: 234
• Page End: 246
• Publication Date: 2017-10-02
• Subjects: Environmental education -- Periodicals; 363.70071
• DOI: 10.1080/1533015X.2017.1333052
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1533-015X

Abstract

ABSTRACT: To understand the complexities of climate change on educator-visitor relationships, we compared educators' perceptions with audiences' expectations for informal science education institutions. Our findings suggest two disconnects: (a) a professional recognition that climate change education is related to institutional mission but a lack of intentional integration of this issue into programming and (b) a misalignment between what educators believe visitors "need to know" and what visitors say they "need to know." These findings indicate institutions' need to discuss how climate change topics integrate with ongoing education efforts and how to best approach messaging and support staff to meet audience expectations.