investiGaming is a publication of the Serious Game Design group in the Department of Telecommunication, Information Studies, and Media at Michigan State University, 2007-2009
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Author: Crowley, K. & Jacobs, M.
Date: 2002
Source: In Leinhardt, G., Crowley, K., & Knutson, K. (Eds)., Learning conversations in museums. (pp. 333-356). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum
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Synopsis:
A case study that investigated how an island of expertise around dinosaurs would influence family learning behaviors in Dinosaur Hall at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History.
Keywords:
book, chapter, case study, survey, family dynamics, learning process
Abstract:
In cooperation with the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, we conducted a study that investigated how an island of expertise around dinosaurs would influence family learning behaviors in Dinosaur Hall. Through video-taped observations, parent surveys, and child interviews, we explored the ways that children's dinosaur knowledge shaped parent-child conversations and interactions in Dinosaur Hall. This study investigated how child knowledge influenced the content of talk, information mediation, and learning role negotiation the occurred between parents and children.
We suggest that in collaboration with parents, caregivers, family, and friends, children can develop an island of expertise — a collection of knowledge, interest, and activity around a specific topic (Crowley & Jacobs, 2002). For children who are actively building an island of expertise around a topic like dinosaurs, family support is critical to the development of information processing skills that can help them to maintain and foster their interest. The islands of expertise framework is a developmental account which explores children’s individual interests and focused pursuit of these topics and investigates how these interests might transition into expertise.
When developing an island of expertise around dinosaurs, young children in cooperation with parents and caregivers actively collect information and experiences that expand their knowledge about dinosaurs through reading dinosaur themed books, suggesting dinosaur DVDs or TV programs, using the Internet to track recent discoveries and visiting museums and active excavation sites. The islands of expertise theory, suggests that family conversations provide a mechanism for children and parents to collect and integrate facts into more sophisticated conceptual understanding.
(from UPCLOSE:Island of Expertise Site )