2025-06-27 Chat

2025 June 27 Free Choice Learning - Motivation and Audience Engagement led by Emily Peavy.

Video LINK

Below you can find a list of attendees, a copy of the chat, and an AI summary for Emily's talk.

Below you can find the list of attendees, a copy of the chat, and a slightly edited versions of an AI Summary for the Emily's talk.  You may reach Emily Peavy at emily (dot) peavy (at) noirlab (dot) edu.

To see a description and schedule of all upcoming Planetarians' Zoom Seminars, visit

https://www.ppadomes.org/events/online-seminars/pzs-schedule

Date and time for the next seminar:

Planetarium Educators Workshop I: Communication with Alan Gould

2025 Jul 25 at 2pm PDT  (5pm EDT, 21:00 UT)

Below

• Attendees

• Chat

• AI Summaries

  • AI Summary - Conversational

  • AI Summary - Outline

Attendees

1. (Co-host) Rosemary Walling, Marie Drake Planetarium, Juneau, AK

2. (Co-host) Alan Gould, Berkeley CA USA

3. Carole Holmberg, retired, Rock Hill, SC

4. Andrew Buckingham, Auckland, New Zealand

5. Diana Yoder, Ohio

6. Ron Proctor, NSF NOIRLab

7. Cal Powell, Alexandria, VA USA

8. Karl von Ahnen, Santa Cruz Mountains,  California

9. Gary Lazich, “Star Guy,” Asheville Museum of Science, western North Carolina

10. Reza Morin-Dayani, Imiloa, UH Hilo

11. Ron Elvert, Richmond, Virginia

12. Dário Fonseca, Hemispherium @ Exploratório, Coimbra - Portugal

13. Krista Testin, Omaha NE

14. and a few more

Chat

00:56:44 Carole Holmberg: when I'm looking forward to what's next

00:56:47 Diana Yoder (she/her): The presenter speaking with me. Not at me

00:56:50 PPA (Rosemary Walling): I am able to follow at the right pace

00:57:02 Alan Gould: If I can ask questions

00:57:07 Karl von Ahnen: A new way to think about something.

00:57:27 Reza Morin-Dayani: Material is interesting, novel and accessible.

00:59:40 Andrew Buckingham: Using terms you can understand

00:59:41 Alan Gould: Asks me to do something

00:59:48 PPA (Rosemary Walling): speaker seems relaxed

01:00:17 Ron Proctor: Meeting the audience/students where they’re at.

01:01:35 Andrew Buckingham: They are asking questions

01:01:38 Reza Morin-Dayani: Visual, and auditory feedback

01:01:40 Carole Holmberg: when audience members ask questions

01:01:44 Diana Yoder (she/her): They respond to my questions! XD

01:01:53 Carole Holmberg: when they laugh at my jokes

01:02:05 Diana Yoder (she/her): Reacted to when they laugh at m... with "👍"

01:02:28 Alan Gould: Gasping

01:02:36 Reza Morin-Dayani: Smiles, laughter, etc

01:02:44 Reza Morin-Dayani: Eyes wide open

01:02:45 Diana Yoder (she/her): They seem excited

01:02:50 Karl von Ahnen: Trying to feel the audiences receptiveness

01:02:52 PPA (Rosemary Walling): not looking at their phones or watches

01:02:54 Ron Proctor: Nodding along.

01:02:54 Reza Morin-Dayani: Focused attention

01:02:58 Alan Gould: Says wow!

01:05:57 Reza Morin-Dayani: In the dark planetarium hard to tell…. No phones or unrelated side convos.  In a bright room you can make eye contact and see expressions…

01:07:03 Ron Proctor: When I am presenting, I ask myself: What’s the energy in the room?

01:07:52 Alan Gould: If audience members are reacting to each other

01:08:57 Karl von Ahnen: Make the audience members feel like you are one of them

01:11:18 Dário Fonseca:

01:11:32 PPA (Rosemary Walling): A movie can be interactive if you pause at times for a short interactive part, initiating thought or discussion

01:16:30 Diana Yoder (she/her): Letter J!

01:17:34 Diana Yoder (she/her): Definitely gotta be supportive!

01:17:55 Gary Lazich: Thanks, Emily. TTFN!

01:18:35 Reza Morin-Dayani: A lilʻharsh...

01:22:10 Reza Morin-Dayani: An exploded plum….

01:22:11 Carole Holmberg: Crab Nebula

01:23:47 Diana Yoder (she/her): Yes! Engage with the answers whenever you can. It will help them learn the correct answer

01:24:12 jon elvert: Need to sign off, great presentation!

01:29:25 Diana Yoder (she/her): Excellent presentation! Thank you!

01:29:51 Ron Proctor: Great job!

01:30:07 Cal Powell: Great talk, Emily! Thanks.

01:30:14 Reza Morin-Dayani: Mahalo Emily!

01:30:21 Emily Peavy: Emily.Peavy@noirlab.edu

01:33:01 Karl von Ahnen: Yes, Excellent! That was very worthwhile.

AI Summary

Note: Our inclusion of an AI Summary is a bit experimental, so we've included it below in a couple of different forms, the first ("Conversational") captures more of the discussion and the second, ("Outline") focuses more on her talk. Please watch the video to get the full talk and all discussions. You may contact Emily for any additional information or for clarifications. If you find any incorrect or misleading information in the AI summaries, you can let us know. Our contact information is here.

AI Summary - Conversational

Quick recap

Emily Peavy presented on free choice learning, audience engagement techniques, and effective presentation strategies during a meeting that included discussions on planetarium education and terminology. The group explored various aspects of audience interaction, handling difficult questions, and creating engaging learning environments. 

Summary

Identity Motivators in Free Choice Learning

Emily presented on free choice learning and identity motivations in educational environments, drawing from her master's research. She explained the distinction between free choice learning and informal education, emphasizing that free choice learning emphasizes active choice and control over learning experiences. Emily outlined five identity motivators for visitors to free choice learning environments: explorers, facilitators, experience seekers, professionals/hobbyists, and rechargers. Through an interactive game, she demonstrated how to identify these motivators based on visitors' reasons for attending. The presentation concluded with a quote from John Falk highlighting key factors for effective learning in free choice environments.

Enhancing Audience Engagement Strategies

Emily discussed engagement in presentations, focusing on both audience and presenter perspectives. She explored factors that make audiences feel engaged, such as being spoken to directly, having questions addressed, and being presented with novel and accessible material. Emily also emphasized the importance of creating interactive experiences rather than passive ones, encouraging presenters to adjust their presentations based on audience feedback. She noted that different audience types may have varying levels of engagement, and it's important to create a low-shame environment to support learning.

Effective Audience Engagement Strategies

Emily conducted an experiment to demonstrate the impact of different response styles when dealing with incorrect answers during presentations. She showed that a harsh or dismissive response can discourage engagement and participation, whereas a supportive and personal approach can maintain interest and connection with the audience. The group discussed the importance of recognizing whether questions are open-ended or closed, with Alan noting that open-ended questions may not have a single correct answer. Emily emphasized the value of personal engagement and connection with the audience to enhance learning and participation.

Mastering Audience Engagement Strategies

Emily presented effective presentation techniques, focusing on audience engagement and handling difficult questions. She emphasized the importance of making every piece of information worthwhile, building around engaging moments, and being mindful of audience assumptions. Emily also discussed strategies for dealing with misinformation and difficult questions, including guiding audience members towards observations and encouraging curiosity. The presentation concluded with a discussion on audience identity motivators and how to adjust presentations based on audience responses.

Defining Interactive Planetarium Content

Alan and Emily discussed the terminology used in planetarium presentations, particularly the distinction between "active" and "interactive" content. Alan pointed out that in common usage, "interactive" often refers to direct manipulation of technology, such as voting on planet visits, which doesn't fit Emily's definition of changing the presentation's direction. Emily explained her definitions, emphasizing that true interaction involves audience input that influences the content or direction of the presentation. They agreed that while the terminology might not be perfect, it's important to recognize and understand these different types of audience engagement.

AI Summary - Outline

Overview

This meeting featured a presentation by Emily Peavy on free choice learning and audience engagement in educational settings, particularly planetariums. The session focused on understanding different audience motivations, creating engaging presentations, and building shame-free learning environments.

Key Concepts or Theories:

• Free Choice Learning vs Informal Education

• Five Identity Motivators: Explorers, Facilitators, Experience Seekers, Professionals/Hobbyists, Rechargers

• Passive vs Active vs Interactive presentation styles

• Low-shame learning environments

• Audience engagement techniques

Important Questions Raised:

• How do presenters effectively gauge audience engagement?

• How can presenters handle incorrect answers while maintaining a supportive environment?

• What is the difference between active and interactive presentation styles?

• How can presentations be adapted for different identity motivators?

Key Takeaways and Summary of Learning Objectives

• Understanding the importance of creating supportive, anxiety-free learning environments

• Recognizing different audience identity motivators and adapting presentation styles accordingly

• Learning techniques for maintaining audience engagement

• Developing strategies for handling incorrect answers constructively

• Understanding the distinction between passive, active, and interactive presentation styles

Topic 1: Free Choice Learning and Identity Motivators

Free choice learning environments are spaces where learners actively choose to participate, such as planetariums, museums, and science centers. The presentation outlined five key identity motivators that influence how people engage with these spaces:

• Explorers: Motivated by curiosity and general interest

• Facilitators: Present to support others' learning experiences

• Experience Seekers: Collecting experiences, often tourists

• Professionals/Hobbyists: Seeking specific knowledge

• Rechargers: Looking for peaceful, reflective experiences

Relevant Q&A

Q: How do you judge audience identity motivators when they come in?

A: It's difficult to determine immediately, but sustained interaction and audience responses can provide hints. Different programs may naturally attract different motivator types.

Topic 2: Engagement Techniques

The presentation emphasized the importance of creating engaging experiences through:

• Building personal connections with audience members

• Using appropriate pacing

• Allowing for questions and discussion

• Creating a supportive environment

• Adapting presentation style based on audience response

Relevant Q&A

Q: What indicates good audience engagement?

A: Visual and auditory feedback, asking questions, nodding, focused attention, and appropriate reactions to content.

Topic 3: Handling Incorrect Answers

The presentation demonstrated techniques for responding to incorrect answers while maintaining a supportive learning environment:

• Acknowledging the thought process behind incorrect answers

• Finding connections between incorrect answers and correct information

• Avoiding shame or dismissive responses

• Using mistakes as opportunities for learning and discussion

Relevant Q&A

Q: How do you combat misinformation while maintaining a shame-free environment?

A: Guide audiences toward observations and evidence rather than dismissing their views, and maintain a supportive atmosphere for learning.

Supplemental Resources (t.b.d.)

John Falk's research on museum identity motivators

Citations and slides from the presentation (to be shared with attendees)

Book reference on Free Choice Learning environments