Bill__watson__2

Bill Watson

  • What I do, where I work

  • I work at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History as Chief of Onsite Learning in the Office of Education & Outreach. The Onsite Learning Team at the Museum develops, implements, and evaluates a broad range of products, services, and materials to meet the needs of over 7 million visitors a year.

    I am also working on a doctoral degree in Science Curriculum and Instruction at the George Washington University. My dissertation research focuses on the effectiveness of different kinds of experiences in a science center in preparing students to learn from subsequent reinforcing events.

Positions

  • Education Director at Gulf Coast Exploreum Science Center

  • Research Assistant at The George Washington University

  • More about me

  • I’m a science center guy, having grown up almost in the shadow of the Franklin Institute. My primary (professional) focus is education in informal learning institutions, but I don’t think that can really be separated from exhibits and exhibitions. My experience with exhibits has mainly been with label writing, programming, and contributing an “education voice” to exhibition plans. And, of course, I am a regular “consumer” of exhibitions.

  • 9/11 Gallery

    9/11 Gallery

    Review

    by Bill Watson Published April 20 2008

    The 9/11 Gallery occupies approximately 1,500 square feet with an adjacent theater. The centerpiece of the gallery is part of the communication tower from the top of one of the World Trade Center buildings that fell in the attacks of 9/11/2001. The...

  • Getting By

    Getting By

    Review

    by Bill Watson Published May 31 2007

    The Lower East Side Tenement Museum is located in the Lower East Side of New York City, traditionally - and still - home to recent immigrants to the United States. The museum is actually a restored tenement. Its 20 apartments, each approximately 350...