Dr. John Falk
Year Hired
2006
Specialty:
Free-Choice Learning and Science Education
Research interests:
The study of learning in free-choice learning settings (with particular focus on museums)
Understanding the role of situated-identity in leisure decision-making and learning
Investigating the long-term impact of free-choice educational institutions on individuals and communities
Investigating new business models for museums and other c ltural institutions
Recent Publications:
Falk, J.H., Dierking, L.D., & Foutz, S. (Eds.) (2007) In Principle-In Practice: Museums as Learning Institutions. Lanham, MD: AltaMira Press.
Falk, J.H., Reinhard, E.M., Vernon, C.L., Bronnenkant, K., Deans, N.L., Heimlich, J.E., (2007). Why Zoos & Aquariums Matter: Assessing the Impact of a Visit. Association of Zoos & Aquariums. Silver Spring, MD.
Ellenbogen, K., Falk, J.H. & Haley-Goldman, K. (2007). Understanding the motivations of museum audiences. In: P.F. Marty and K.B. Jones (eds.). Museum Informatics: People, information and technology in museums. New York: Routledge.
Falk, J.H., Storksdieck, M. & Dierking, L.D. (2007). Investigating public science interest and understanding: Evidence for the importance of free-choice learning. Public Understanding of Science, 16(4).
Koster, E. & Falk, J.H. (2007). Maximizing the external value of museums. Curator, 50(2), 191-196.
Falk, J.H. (2007). Towards an improved understanding of learning from museums: Filmmaking as metaphor. In: J.H. Falk., L.D. Dierking & S. Foutz (eds.). In Principle-In Practice: Museums as Learning Institutions, pp. 3-16. Lanham, MD: AltaMira Press.
Falk, J.H. (2007). Understanding visitor meaning making in and from museums. Park, J.A. (Ed.). Proceedings of the International Society for Education Through Art Conference, Seoul, Korea, August 20-21, 2007.
Falk, J.H. (2007). Understanding how identity-related motivations drive visitor experiences. Euro Amusement Professional.
Falk, J.H. (2007). Re-inventing the museum’s business model. Irish Museums Journal.
Falk, J.H. (2006). The impact of visit motivation on learning: Using identity as a construct to understand the visitor experience. Curator, 49(2), 151-166.
Falk, J.H. & Sheppard, B. (2006) Thriving in the Knowledge Age: New business models for museums and other cultural institutions. Lanham, MD: AltaMira Press.
Falk, J.H., Dierking, L.D., Rennie, L.J., & Williams, G.F. (2006). FORUM: Communication about science in a traditional museum; visitor's and staff's perceptions. Cultural Studies of Science Education, 2 (1).
Falk, J.H., Dierking, L.D., & Adams, M. (2006). Living in a learning society: Museums and free-choice learning. In: S.J. Macdonald (ed.) Blackwell Companion to Museums. London: Blackwell Publishing.
Ellenbogen, K., Falk, J.H. & Haley-Goldman, K. (2006). Understanding the motivations of museum audiences. In: P.F. Marty and K.B. Jones (eds.). Museum Informatics: People, information and technology in museums. New York: Routledge.
Falk, J.H. (2006). Developing a new business model for science centers. In: C. Yao, L. Dierking & P. Anderson (eds.). The Handbook of Small Science Centers. Lanham, MD: AltaMira Press.
Falk, J.H. & Storksdieck, M. (2005). Learning science from museums. Historia, Ciencias, Saude; Manguinhos, Vol 12, pp. 117-144. Rio de Janeiro: Casa de Oswaldo Cruz.
Falk, J.H. (2005). Free-choice environmental learning: Framing the discussion. Environmental Education Research, 11(3), 265-80.
Falk, J.H., Dierking, L.D. & Storksdieck, M. (2005). Lifelong science learning research. In J. Moon, (ed.). Informal Science Research. Washington, DC: Board on Science Education, National Academy of Science.
Falk, J.H. & Storksdieck, M. (2005). Using the Contextual Model of Learning to understand visitor learning from a science center exhibition. Science Education, 89, 744-778.
Recent Grant/Funded Work
NSF# ESI-0638981 Informal Science Education Resource Center. 2007-2012. Co-Principal Investigator.
NSF#ESI- #0636124 The Role of Media in Supporting Free-Choice Science Learning. 2007-2009; Project Director.
Australian Research Council #DP0556543. Investigating the educational impact of wildlife-based leisure experiences in supporting visitors' adoption of environmentally sustainable practices. 2005-2007; Co-Principal Investigator.
NSF#ESI-0205843 Assessing the Impact of a Visit to a Zoo or Aquarium: A Multi-Institutional Research Project. 2003-2007; Principal Investigator.
NSF#ESI-0318868 In Principle, In Practice: The Second Annapolis Conference on Museum Learning. 2003-2006; Project Director.
Recent Graduate Student Dissertations
Courses Taught
SED 589 (Spring 2007) Role of Lifelong Science and Mathematics Learning in Building Sustainable Communities
SED 582 (Fall 2007) Personal Dimensions of Free-Choice Learning
Degrees:
BA University of California, Berkeley 1970
MA University of California, Berkeley 1972
PhD University of California, Berkeley 1974
Office:
Weniger 237
Phone:
(541) 737-1826
Email: