ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
*****************************************************************************
Agreed - the open house method works best for us, too. I also agree that
we do lose some of the ideal situation in that we do not have time to
specifically tell teachers about this program or that - or for them to
experience a class, for instance. However, a group in an IMAX Theater is
a pretty captive audience, and if you're self-deprecating about it, a
5-10 minute schpiel can go over quite well.
Despite the evenings being more like a night off for teachers, I think
they do pick up on our programs/exhibits "by osmosis" - and they know we
care about them and their business, which goes a very long way with
educators.
An earlier question (perhaps the original) asked about which nights work
for us. Mondays are out because of faculty meetings, and Wednesdays are
out because of church (context-specific, probably). Tuesdays, we were
told, are generally too early in the week, and we wouldn't get any
teachers on weekends unless we served alcohol, but that's a whole
different story. So Thursday evening it is. I have no problem with this,
but other members of the staff protest because they have to *tape*
Survivor, rather than watch it live. :)
Bill
Bill Watson
Education Director
Gulf Coast Exploreum Science Center
Mobile, AL
(251) 208-6851
*******************************************************************
Search for the elusive and noble Indian Tiger in the Gulf
Coast's only IMAX Dome Theater! "India: Kingdom of the
Tiger" now showing through December 24, 2003.
"Scream Machines: The Science of Fun" opens in the
Exploreum's traveling exhibit hall on September 27, 2003.
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-----Original Message-----
From: Informal Science Education Network
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Ben Dickow
Sent: Tuesday, October 07, 2003 11:52 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Teacher Nights
ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology
Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
institutions.
************************************************************************
*****
Teacher nights are dicey events. Both major institutions I've worked at
are
in large cities (LA and Chicago) with very large teacher populations.
Our
educator events never made a dent in reaching a significant number of
these
teachers, especially new ones who had not already used our services.
In order to attract participants, IMAX or OmniMax movies were always
shown
which, along with the food, were the main reasons why teachers came
(Food is
very important to them right after school (as it is for me)). Anyway,
the
main message of the evening, educating educators about our programs, was
usually lost to the perks (movies, food). A scheduled evening - meaning
one
where teachers are broken up into groups that have to be in certain
places
at certain times (except the movie times)- never really worked either.
It's
very hard to get teachers to gather and sit for a presentation of our
services after a day at school.
So...the approach that seems to work best is an open house, with a very
loose structure to it. Movies are shown throughout the evening and
attendance is on a first come, first served basis. Booths are set up
around
the museum focusing on our programs so that teachers can wander there if
they want to. Food is an open buffet. The whole ethos of the evening is
to
make it easy on teachers so that they are given a nice night after a
hard
day at school. It's a kind of appreciation for their hard work and, like
any
visitors to the museum, we hope that the great positive experience of
the
night will stick in their minds and get them to come back with their
classes
or find out more about our programs.
ben dickow
Science Writer and Program Developer
California Science Center
-----Original Message-----
From: Deborah Hunt [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Monday, October 06, 2003 4:17 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Teacher Nights
ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology
Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
institutions.
************************************************************************
****
*
We are thinking of reinstating our annual teacher/educator night with
the
idea of introducing our fieldtrips program to those new to us and also
to
offer classroom ideas/support to those who already have come to the
musuem
on fieldtrips.
For those of you who do or have done this, can you share your experience
---
both the positive and negative --- and what you'd do differently?
Also, was it worth it? Did you get a good turnout? What days of the
week,
time of year, and hours worked best?
Thanks so much,
Deb
--
Deborah Hunt
CTL Senior Information Specialist
Exploratorium
3601 Lyon Street
San Francisco, CA 94123
Voice: 415-353-0485
Fax: 415-561-0370
mailto:[log in to unmask]
"A woman is like a tea bag; she never knows how strong she is until
she's
in hot water." Eleanor Roosevelt
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More information about the Informal Science Education Network and the
Association of Science-Technology Centers may be found at
http://www.astc.org.
To remove your e-mail address from the ISEN-ASTC-L list, send the
message SIGNOFF ISEN-ASTC-L in the BODY of a message to
[log in to unmask]
***********************************************************************
More information about the Informal Science Education Network and the
Association of Science-Technology Centers may be found at http://www.astc.org.
To remove your e-mail address from the ISEN-ASTC-L list, send the
message SIGNOFF ISEN-ASTC-L in the BODY of a message to
[log in to unmask]
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