This focus area has as its objective addressing the practices of educators in science centers as well as the practice-related research on learning in science centres. The participatory action research approach in Expand is chosen with a special interest in how reflection on practice (Schön 1983) may take form both in relation to science center professions as well as in research methods to suit the empirical challenges of research in science centers. The focus area will concentrate on following research question: How can arenas for reflection and professional practice development be established and how can they be made sustainable?

The development of Reflective Practice Arenas is an important part of the participatory research methodology chosen for Expand, and serves as a means to involve a broader community of science centre educators in discussions of research activities and outcomes of the Expand programme. The development of reflective practices involves establishing a national network for science center research, developing a shared evaluation framework for science centers in addition to the CPD modules. As part of the CPD programme course participants meet and collaborate with other science educators and develop analytical frameworks in collaboration with researchers from the national network. In this way, the CPD programme is part of a strategy for engaging science practitioners in research, by providing an arena where researchers and practitioners can share ideas and understanding of implications (Rickinson, Sebba & Edwards 2012), based on practitioners premises.

Science educators reflective practice

This track will have as its objective addressing the practices of educators in science centers as well as the practice-related research on learning in science centres. The participatory action research approach in Expand is chosen with a special interest in how reflection on practice (Schön 1983) may take form both in relation to science center professions as well as in research methods to suit the empirical challenges of research in science centers. The focus area will concentrate on following research question: How can arenas for reflection and professional practice development be established and how can they be made sustainable? This focus area has development of reflective practices and sharing of research results, outcomes and experiences as its central concern. Therefore, it aims to establish several arenas where knowledge can be exchanged between researchers and educational departments in the eight Norwegian science centres that are connected to the Expand project. The development of Reflective Practice Arenas are an important initiative as part of the participatory research methodology chosen for Expand, and serve as a means to involve a broader community of science centre educators in discussions of research activities and outcomes of the Expand programme.

The focus area includes following projects:

• CPD-programme & coresearch with science educators
• Science educators reflective practice on science centers as learning arenas ( link to page)
• Designing exhibitions – negotiating knowledges