The work of science educators and facilitators
The professions of facilitator, science explainers, informal science educators are constantly evolving. Producing a coherent picture of the profession is becoming increasingly challenging due to its extreme diversity of practice locations, legal status, and job title. The qualitative and quantitative studies produced by the École de la Médiation aim to better define the profession’s contours.
Bringing together scientific educators and facilitators
The abilities needed for these players’ different activities and tasks are not yet well understood.
The École de la Médiation aims to unite the profession and raise its awareness.
Creating a skills repository for the profession
We implemented a project in partnership with some fifteen public engagement with science experts and professionals from organizations as diverse as science centers, popular education and environmental education non-profits, universities, technical museums and other museums. The aim was to identify whether professionals required “core” competencies, regardless of where they worked.
The challenges
Science educators and facilitators ensure everyone has access to science and technology education. Giving people a taste for science, promoting access to science for all, and decoding a multifaceted society are among the challenges facing the profession. The École de la Médiation aims to unite and raise the profile of this profession.
Fields of expertise
Four main areas of facilitator skills have emerged, organized into a tree system. They are intrinsic to the profession and, in many cases, overlap.
- Leading facilitations
- Designing facilitation
- Managing facilitation projects
- Enhancing knowledge and practices
The work presented here is a first and essential step towards the recognition and enhancement of the profession.
