Thinking About Dolphins Thinking
IMLS (Institute of Museum & Library Services) Grant Awarded
Proposal Leads: Paul J. Boyle, Ph.D., Diana Reiss, Ph.D., Johnny Fraser, Ph.D
From the time of the ancient Greeks to the present, dolphins have inspired fascination in those that have witnessed them in the wild, on screen, and in aquariums. Institutions have long realized this appeal of dolphins but have focused primarily on the physical prowess and the trained behaviors of these highly gregarious animals.
An untapped learning potential exists in the amazing cognitive, social, and communicative skills of dolphins. This premise shaped a public exhibit designed to connect visitors in a compelling way to these aspects of dolphins by seeing scientific research in action.
The exhibit focused on dolphin cognition – Thinking About Dolphins Thinking.
Using extensive evaluation to plan appropriate messages, technology, and media, but no live dolphins, the exhibit used technology to promote learning science through engaging interactive applications.
The exhibit presented scientific findings to illustrate close connections and intriguing differences in cognition and communication that exist between humans and other big-brained mammals.
This information had been considered too complex for the public to understand, so we used technology to remove the barriers and the compelling nature of interactive involvement. We assessed perceived relevance among multiple audiences in grasping specific concepts presented using various visual experiences. This allowed identification of effective approaches for invoking increased interest in dolphins and other marine mammals, which enhanced science learning.
This project showed how informal settings can enhance learning. The National Science Education Standards noted, “Public schools need the support of science-rich institutions to establish and pursue the goal of science literacy. . .” and to “allow students to apply scientific knowledge and reasoning to situations they will encounter in the world outside the classroom (NRC). Evaluations confirmed that inspiring people into Thinking About Dolphins Thinking achieved these goals.