Center for Informal Learning and Schools (CILS) is an
American-based
National Science Foundation
The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) is an Independent agencies of the United States government#Examples of independent agencies, independent agency of the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government that su ...
funded center to create a program of research, scholarship, and leadership in the arena of
informal learning and the relationship of informal science institutions and schools. The center was founded in 2002.
Functionality
Like all NSF-funded Centers for Learning and Teaching, CILS addresses "pressing problems confronting
K-12
K-1 is a professional kickboxing promotion established in 1993 by karateka Kazuyoshi Ishii.
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science education
Science education is the teaching and learning of science to school children, college students, or adults within the general public. The field of science education includes work in science content, science process (the scientific method), some ...
" by focusing on some key component of the national science education infrastructure.
In particular, CILS is concerned with making K-12 science education more compelling and accessible to a diverse student population, including students who come from families with little formal experience with K-12 schools and science learning. CILS does this through studying science learning in out-of-school settings, including informal science institutions, and building programmatic bridges between out-of-school and school science learning. In tandem with these studies, CILS seeks to build on and strengthen modes and methods of engagement and conceptual development commonly found in those settings.
References
National Science Foundation
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