Most often associated with international development programs, local nonformal education, which is practiced in cultural (museums), historical (memorials, battlefields), natural (parks), and commercial (craft, home improvement clinics) settings, has received little substantive attention in the United States. In response, this case study explored two nonformal education sites (state parks and home improvement clinics) to understand how nonformal educators make meaning of their practice. Through observations and interviews, results indicate a much more complex picture of nonformal education than is discussed in the literature, with implications for both formal education and improving the practice of nonformal education.
Beckman, E. A. (1999). Evaluating visitors’ reactions to interpretation in Australian national parks. Journal of Interpretation Research, 4(1), 5-19.
2.
Bock, J. C., & Bock, C. M. (1989). Nonformal education policy: Developing countries. In C. J. Titmus (Ed.), Lifelong education for adults: An international handbook (pp. 64-69). Oxford, UK: Pergamon Press.
3.
Brennan, B. (1997). Reconceptualizing non-formal education. International Journal of Lifelong Education, 16(3), 185-200.
4.
Brody, M., & Tomkiewicz, W. (2002). Park visitors’ understandings, values and beliefs related to their experience at midway geyser basin, Yellowstone National Park, USA. International Journal of Science Education, 24(11), 1119-1141.
5.
Carr, D. (1991). Minds in museums and libraries: The cognitive management of cultural institutions. Teachers College Record, 93(1), 6-27.
6.
Coombs, P. H., & Ahmed, M. (1974). Attacking rural poverty: How nonformal education can help. London: Johns Hopkins University Press.
7.
Courtney, S. (1991). Defining adult and continuing education. In S. B. Merriam & P. M. Cunningham (Eds.), Handbook of adult and continuing education (pp. 15-25). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
8.
Ewert, D. M. (1989). Adult education and international development. In S. B. Merriam & P. M. Cunningham (Eds.), Handbook of adult and continuing education (pp. 84-98). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
9.
Gelber, S. M. (1999). Hobbies: Leisure and culture of work in America. New York: Columbia University Press.
10.
Heimlich, J. E. (1993). Nonformal environmental education: Toward a working definition. Columbus, OHEducational Resources Information Center. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED 360 154)
11.
Hitch, J., & Youatt, J. P. (2002). Communicating family and consumer sciences: A guidebook for professionals. Tinley Park, IL: Goodheart-Willcox.
12.
Hofer, B. K. (2002). Personal epistemology as a psychological and educational construct: An introduction. In B. K. Hofer & P. R. Pintrich (Eds.), Personal epistemology: The psychology of beliefs about knowledge and knowing (pp. 3-15). London: Lawrence Erlbaum.
13.
Hooper, J. K. (1988). Teacher cognitions of wildlife management concepts. Journal of Environmental Education, 19(3), 15-18.
14.
Jarvis, P. (1987). Adult learning in a social context. London: Croom Helm.
15.
Johnson, C. M. (2001). A survey of current research on online communities of practice. Internet and Higher Education, 4(1), 45-60.
16.
Lave, J., & Wenger, E. (1991). Situated learning: Legitimate peripheral participation. New York: Cambridge University.
17.
Manikowske, L., Stone, J., Farr, B., Wilson, J., & Wintersteen, W. (2002). Teaching about chemical resistant gloves with educational exhibits. Journal of Family and Consumer Sciences, 94(4), 34-40.
18.
Marsick, V. J., & Watkins, K. E. (1990). Informal and incidental learning in the workplace. London: Routledge.
19.
McCaw, S. C. (1980). Teacher attitudes toward environmental education. Journal of Environmental Education, 11(2), 18-23.
20.
Merriam, S. (1998). Qualitative research and case study applications in education. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
21.
Merriam, S., & Caffarella, R. S. (1999). Learning in adulthood. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
22.
Morrel, R. (2002, August 22). Homeowners learn to do it all themselves. The Boston Globe, H1-H1. National Park Service. (2005, March 9).
23.
NPS director says visitation to national parks up in 2004 [News release]. Retrieved from http://data2.itc.nps.gov/release/Detail.cfm?ID=574.
24.
Pedretti, E., Macdonald, R. D., Gitari, W., & McLaughlin, H. (2001). Visitor perspectives on the nature and practice of science: Challenging beliefs through “A Question of Truth.”Canadian Journal of Science, Mathematics and Technology Education, 1(4), 399-418.
25.
Perka, P. L., Matherly, C. A., Fishman, D. E., & Ridge, R. H. (1992). Using photographs to examine environmental perceptions of African-American and White Greek members: A qualitative study. College Student Affairs Journal, 12, 7-15.
26.
Pratt, D. D., & Associates (Eds.). (1998). Five perspectives on teaching adult and higher education. Malabar, FL: Krieger.
27.
Prosser, J. (1998). Imaged-based research. London: Falmer.
28.
Reed, H. B., & Loughran, E. L. (Eds.). (1984). Beyond schools: Education for economic, social and personal development. Amherst, MA: Community Education Resource Center.
29.
Robertson, C. L., & Krugly-Smolska, E. (1997). Gaps between advocated practices and teaching realities in environmental education [electronic version]. Environmental Education Research, 3(3), 331-331.
30.
Strauss, A., & Corbin, J. (1998). Basics of qualitative research. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
31.
Taylor, E. W. (2002). Using still photography in making meaning of adult educators’ teaching beliefs. Studies in the Education of Adults, 34(2), 122-139.
32.
Taylor, E. W. (2004). Teaching beliefs of nonformal environmental educators: A perspective from state and local parks in the United States. Environmental Education Research, 10(4), 451-469.
33.
Taylor, E. W. (2005). Teaching beliefs of nonformal consumer educators: A perspective of teaching in home improvement retail stores in the United States. International Journal of Consumer Studies, 29(5), 448-457.
34.
Verdurme, A., & Viaene, J. (2003). Consumer beliefs and attitude towards genetically modified food: Basis for segmentation and implications for communication. Agribusiness, 19(1), 91-113.
35.
Wenger, E. (1998). Communities of practice: Learning, meaning, and identity. New York: Cambridge University.
