Jane Goodall Educator Institute
Action Plan
Lori A. Lauver, Director of Education
Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts
301 Market Street, 6th Floor
Harrisburg, PA 17101
(717) 221-8201 ext. 1144
(717) 221-3970 fax
llauver@whitakercenter.org
Primate Snapshots: Events and Activities for Families
Individual Title: Who's Looking Now?
Audience: Floor program for family visitors
Overview:
Family groups are given observation booklets in which they are tasked with observing the world around them. This would best be done in a setting where there was a video loop containing an ethologist (behaviorist) describing observation techniques they use in order to develop an ethogram of an individual or animal. They are shown a video clip of an animal and asked to circle behaviors that they observe during the clip at least one time. They are then asked to observe a small group of people and asked to pick out the individual that they have been recording. Repeat using primate/chimpanzee subjects.
Goals:
To raise public awareness of behaviorist research techniques; to build visitor observation/ data recording skills.
Implementation Procedure:
Program Dates/ Times:
On-going video in conjunction with film dates.
Materials:
videotape, copies of observation booklets, clipboards, pencils (attached)
Location:
Cave exhibit in Environment and Ecology Exhibit Hall
Internal Contacts:
Exhibits department (use of exhibit space, provide materials for conducting observations), Public programs department (voiceover), Education department (development of booklet)
External Contacts:
Boston Museum of Science - video of observations of b-ball game; a person dressed in a gorilla suit walks across screen halfway through and most people are so obsessed with watching/ recording how many times the b-ball is passed that they never see the gorilla. Also switching of people in a conversation as a person carrying a door walks by.
Local university behavior scientists (psychology, biology, human ecology departments??)
Nearby zoos
Local film production studio
Possible Financial Support:
Evaluation: Analysis of time-on-task/ length of stay at exhibit area;
pre/post observation techniques survey (interview or computer analysis)
Individual Title: Ape-ing Around
Audience: Floor program for family visitors/ school groups
Overview:
Families will be see pictures of the 6 basic emotions that occur in humans paired with same emotions displayed by chimpanzees. Given mirrored surface will be able to mimic chimpanzee facial expressions.
Goals:
Visitors will recognize visual cues that are common to both humans and chimpanzees.
Implementation Procedure:
Re-work mirrored surface mask area to reflect relationship to Jane Goodall Wild Chimpanzees
Program Dates/ Times:
Ongoing throughout run of film (possibility of hold-over)
Materials: Mirrored surface (or individual mirrors), photos of chimpanzee expressions and counterpart human emotion examples
Location:
Either in Make a Face exhibit area or part of STARS Science a la Cart programs
Internal Contacts:
Exhibits (graphic capabilities for possible exhibit rehab), STARS program coordinator and STARS participants
External Contacts:
Primatologist/ human anthropologist
Possible Financial Support:
Evaluation:
Individual Title: Chimpanzee Explorations
Audience: Floor program for family visitors
Overview:
A series of open-ended activities that can be conducted within the Science Center exhibit halls by youth volunteers and adult staff members. The series would "kick-off" the film premiere and continued for 6 weeks after the premiere.
Goals:
To provide activities that generate interest in chimpanzees, provide subject matter for further investigation, and empower visitors to take action to a cause that is important to them.
Implementation Procedure:
Science a la Cart activities will be developed that allow guests to explore the world of chimpanzees and primate research. The cart activities will include:
Opposable thumb activity
Nest building
Termite fishing simulation activity
Arm/ leg/ trunk ratio comparison activity (human vs. primate)
Storytime Science experience for young visitors featuring the Eagle and the Wren by Jane Goodall with a follow-up hands-on activity.
Program Dates/ Times:
Exhibit hall programs would be conducted during Science Center operational hours Tuesday through Sunday. Duration of programs would be six weeks.
Storytime Science activities would be offered twice daily Tuesday through Sunday-duration is six weeks.
Materials:
Individual activities, including storytime science, would have their own materials listing and would be stored in self-contained storage bins.
Location:
Science Center Exhibit Halls
Environment and Ecology (nest building)
Culture and communication/ Genetics (opposable thumb)
Simple Machines (Termite Fishing)
Anatomy/ Physiology (Arm/ leg/ trunk ratio- Human vs. chimpanzee)
Kid's Hall (Storytime Science)
Internal Contacts:
STARS Volunteer Coordinator (youth volunteer program)
Adult Volunteer Coordinator
Education Staff
External Contacts:
Primatologist for screening programming for scientific accuracy
Possible Financial Support:
Local foundations; promotional support through GS USA and 4-H offices locally through the "Making a Difference" message
Evaluation:
Duration of time engaged at activities; anectdotal records of comments made during activity (observations); comment cards
Individual Title: Big Science Theatre Show
Audience: Public program in theater space for family visitors/ school groups
Overview:
A Big Science Theatre show that addresses how field research is conducted complete with sound effects and lighting. Must be able to be conducted by a single actor with a tech person.
Goals:
Upon seeing the Big Science Theatre performance, the public will be more aware of how behavioral research is conducted both in the wild and in captivity.
Implementation Procedure:
Script will be written that illustrates how scientific research is conducted in a theatrical, entertaining style which is scientifically accurate. Behaviorist Bobbi will examine the study of living things delving into primate, chimpanzee, and human behaviorist research techniques.
Program Dates/ Times:
Shows will be held twice daily Monday through Friday and once daily on Saturday and Sunday. Duration of the run will be from Oct. 2002- June, 2003 to ensure the program is seen by school visitors.
Materials:
Set design, music/ sound effect programming, scripts, costumes, props
Location:
Big Science Theatre performance space
Internal Contacts:
Public Programs Director, acting staff
External Contacts:
Primate researchers at zoos and university field researchers
Possible Financial Support:
Ben and Jerry's (Chunky monkey campaign); local medical associations; local psychology clinics
Evaluation:
Individual Title: Chimp Speak
Audience: Floor program- school groups, scout groups
Overview:
Audio vocalizations and pictorial representations of chimpanzee facial expression during communication will be presented. Visitors will try to imitate vocalizations.
Goals:
Through participation in this activity, visitors will understand how chimpanzees use their own form of language to communicate.
Implementation Procedure:
In our culture and communication area, either paid or volunteer floor staff will engage the visitors in the interaction with our language exhibit (they can attempt to repeat phrases in one of 9 different language choices that records their vocalization for comparison to the original spoken phrase). Visitors will then experience chimpanzee vocalizations with pictorial representation of facial expression while communication. Visitors will attempt to replicate vocalizations with suggestions from the staff member on particular techniques that the visitor may want to try to closer replicate the vocalization.
Program Dates/ Times:
Staffing in that area will be provided Monday through Friday (9:30 AM - 1:30 PM) and from 12:30 - 3:30 PM on Saturday and Sunday. Duration of the program will be from Oct. 2002- March, 2003 to ensure the program is experienced by school visitors.
Materials:
Audio or digital recording of chimp vocalizations paired with accompanying photos or close-up video clip, staffing.
Location:
Culture and Communication exhibit area
Internal Contacts:
Volunteer Coordinator, Exhibits Department (possibility), School Programs
Manager
External Contacts:
Primate researcher
Possible Financial Support:
Evaluation:
Engagement time at exhibit/ activity; random sampling interviews (face-to-face upon completion of activity)
Individual Title: I Remember You?
Audience: Floor program for family visitors / school groups
Overview:
Visitors will be given one minute to attempt to match pairs of chimp pictures in a memory game set-up. At the conclusion, staff will ask what types of techniques that guest used to aid them in this task. Discussion about feature recognition will be discussed with the guest in an informal way. The guest will attempt to match the chimp pairs again. Changes in success rate will be recorded by the staff member.
Goals:
After completing this activity, the visitor will be aware of the importance of feature recognition in order to identify an individual that cannot speak with you.
Implementation Procedure:
This program would be implemented as described in the overview by staff or STARS (youth volunteers).
Program Dates/ Times:
Program would be conducted during Science Center operational hours Tuesday through Sunday. Duration of program would be six weeks.
Materials:
Laminated 3.5" x 5" photographic images of chimpanzees (6 of each to be kept in 3 separate bags containing 2 of each photo); 3 stopwatches
Location:
Science Center Exhibit Halls (either in Environment and Ecology or Anatomy and Physiology)
Internal Contacts:
Floor staff, Adult Volunteer Coordinator, STARS program coordinator
External Contacts:
Photographic source for game pieces
Possible Financial Support:
Not applicable
Evaluation:
Time frame for activity development/ delivery/ evaluation:
Fall, 2001 Meet with all staff who are affected by plans set forth for brainstorming session; assign deadlines for program development and securing of sponsors
Spring, 2002 Second meeting with staff-this time in individual sections according to activity/ event; general marketing plan agreed upon
Summer, 2002 Series of meetings that "fine tune" the roles, expectations of all departments; focus on marketing
Fall, 2002 Program delivery; gather evaluation data
Spring, 2003 Analyze evaluation data