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We do 2 Educators' Previews each year: 1 in mid-September, and 1 in
early January. These correspond to the times that we start new films in
the IMAX Theater as well as when we open new traveling exhibits.

For the first preview we offered in September 2000, we had - count 'em -
16 participants. Yep. It's grown steadily from there, though, and about
2 weeks ago, we hosted 140 teachers for our Fall preview. We're happy
with this turnout. We're a small (15,000 sq. ft. exhibits) science
center that serves about 50,000 school kids a year, and this number of
teachers is typical for our Fall preview. We generally get more teachers
in the Spring (closer to 175-200). We attribute this to two main
factors: 1) more interesting exhibits and films, 2) teachers have been
teaching for half a year, so they're comfortable taking their students
out in public. Spring attendance fluctuates heavily, from 175 last
Spring (Space Station exhibit and film) to 500 two years ago ("China:
7,000 Years of Innovation" and the Panda Adventure).

We send out announcements to teachers on our mailing lists, both
electronic and snail mail, usually 3-4 weeks before the preview,
although both previews are announced in our annual Educators' Guide to
Programs. For the postal mail announcements, we send enough flyers for
all the teachers in the school to one contact teacher. For email, we
just send the information to everyone on the list. We ask that teachers
RSVP, although we don't keep those names on any particular list. We just
want to get a head count so we know how many IMAX shows to have. In the
broadest terms, we usually get about 1/2 the number of participants who
say they're going to be here.

We provide snacks - veggie platters, cookies, chips, cokes - until the
supplies run out. And they do run out. I love the idea of getting that
stuff donated, but we haven't gotten there yet. If you have the money
and can get the event catered (or sponsored so that you can have it
catered), then do that - definitely. The food will eat you up. It is
very time-consuming, but worth it. Teachers do appreciate that.

Teachers also appreciate free stuff. We always prepare a bag of
"goodies" for them: exhibit and film guides, guides to programs for the
year, pencils, pens, materials from NASA (we have a NASA space center
nearby - they're awesome), etc. Companies/restaurants will sometimes
also provide discount coupons, trinkets, etc. for the bags. But you
gotta have a bag.

Finally, we make very certain on our announcements that we advertise the
following:

1) Free IMAX Preview (this seems to be the biggest draw)
2) Free food
3) Door prizes (e.g. a free field trip for 25, a book from the gift
shop, a 1/2 hour massage from a local business, etc.)
4) Professional Development Credits

We have worked out with our partner school systems to provide 2.0 hours
of professional development for the previews on the logic that teachers
are experiencing exhibits and films and being opened to the idea that
they might teach their students in new ways.

Interestingly, our evaluations show that the exhibit/film previews are
most important to teachers, followed by food, and then professional
development credit.

Finally, a word about our participants: I'd say about half of our
audience are "familiar faces" and about half each time are new faces.
Depending on your goals for the preview, you can interpret that data a
couple of different ways. I like it, because it allows us to build a
relationship with some of our audience while continuing to offer new
experiences to others.

So does it work? That's our next question. This Fall, we're going to
match teachers' names and schools with our field trip database to see
how many actually use the preview for its intended purpose: to preview
the exhibit before booking a field trip. I'll let you know how it turns
out.

Cheers,

Bill

Bill Watson
Education Director
Gulf Coast Exploreum Science Center
Mobile, AL
(251) 208-6851

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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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