Difficult Concepts

This collection of tips sheets offer basic tips for engaging public audiences in hands-on activities. They include resources for engaging with young learners, girls and bilingual audiences, tips for accessibility, inclusion and engagement in museums, tips for engaging visitors in...

It can be challenging to know what ideas and experiences learners already have when they visit an informal education venue. What facilitation approaches will help them build productive and deep conceptual learning about Earth and space science? When educators anticipate...

Visitors bring different experiences and knowledge to the activity table, which sometimes helps and sometimes adds confusion to their learning. In this online workshop, participants learned how to identify common patterns of thinking (including misconceptions, preconceived notions and vernacular issues)...

These simple reference sheets offer basic tips for leading the hands-on activities in your toolkit. The "Tips for leading hands-on activities" sheet includes suggestions for engaging and encouraging visitors, as well as for handling difficult concepts and misconceptions. The "Tips for guest speakers"...