이 연구의 목적은 자연사박물관 교육프로그램에 대한 참가자를 대상으로 만족도와 학교 과학 교육의 연계에 대한 인식을 조사하여 학교 밖 교육활동의 장으로서 자연사박물관 교육프로그램의 운영 방향에 대한 시사점을 알아보는 것이다. 본 연구에서는 공립 자연사박물관으로서 최근 6년간 3만명 이상의 가장 많은 교육 프로그램 수강생을 유치했으며 매년 60여 개의 다양한 프로그램을 개설함으로서 안정적으로 교육프로그램을 운영하고 있는 서울특별시 서대문구 소재의 서대문자연사박물관을 대상 박물관으로 선정하였다. 2009년 여름학기 교육프로그램에 참가자 중 988명의 학생과 479명의 학부모를 대상으로 자연사박물관 교육프로그램에 대한 만족도 및 학교 교육과의 연계에 대한 인식을 조사하였다. 연구 결과로, 프로그램 내적으로는 전시물 활용 교육 강화와 실험시간의 확보가 중요하며 프로그램 외적으로는 교통 및 홍보에 대한 개선이 필요할 것으로 보인다. 학교교육과의 연계는 지식적 측면 보다 탐구 능력 및 과학적 태도의 측면에서 연계가 될 수 있도록 하는 것이 더 중요하다는 인식이 많았다.

The purpose of this research is to investigate the participant satisfaction of public educational programs being carried out in Natural History Museum and the contribution of these programs to normal school education and to suggest an improved framework for public education programs in Natural History Museum. For this study, we choose Seodaemun Museum of Natural History in Seodaemungu, Seoul, in which more than 30,000 students have participated in the educational programs for the last 6 years. This museum has been providing more than 60 science education programs every year. Based on a public census among participating students and accompanying parents, we investigated the satisfaction ratings of education programs provided by Natural History Museum and their contribution to school science education. The result of this study can be summarized as follows: (1) It is desired to have the education program contents well connected to the exhibits of the Museum and to increase time for experiments and practice. (2) It is required to improve the ease of access and to enhance the public awareness about the program itself. (3) The biggest consensus among participants is that the education programs by Natural History Museum should be focused on strengthening the research ability and scientific attitude rather than on acquiring knowledge, which will contribute to school education more significantly in the end.

The purpose of this research is to investigate the participant satisfaction of public educational programs being carried out in Natural History Museum and the contribution of these programs to normal school education and to suggest an improved framework for public education programs in Natural History Museum. For this study, we choose Seodaemun Museum of Natural History in Seodaemungu, Seoul, in which more than 30,000 students have participated in the educational programs for the last 6 years. This museum has been providing more than 60 science education programs every year. Based on a public census among participating students and accompanying parents, we investigated the satisfaction ratings of education programs provided by Natural History Museum and their contribution to school science education. The result of this study can be summarized as follows: (1) It is desired to have the education program contents well connected to the exhibits of the Museum and to increase time for experiments and practice. (2) It is required to improve the ease of access and to enhance the public awareness about the program itself. (3) The biggest consensus among participants is that the education programs by Natural History Museum should be focused on strengthening the research ability and scientific attitude rather than on acquiring knowledge, which will contribute to school education more significantly in the end.

Natural history museum, education program, science education