ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
*****************************************************************************

Wayne;

There is something to using "real equipment" however there are skills 
necessary to having a meaningful experience with "real" instruments 
and a problem of "abuse" due to just so many visitors using an 
instrument. Perhaps this means using them in a facilitated space?

Many of the experiences we've observed visitors having with living 
materials is the thrill of seeing something alive and I think this is 
independent of using a Wentzscope (or even a hand lens) or a 
microscope that conforms to a visitors image of a "real" instrument. 
I think if the experience for our visitors is discovery of something 
new and different (like the inside of a large protozoan). The 
instrument maybe incidental. In the recent Darwin exhibition much was 
made of Darwin's use of a hand lens and if they had been able to give 
each visitor a hand lens to sue in the exhibition it would have 
enhanced the sense of discovery. Sometimes I think we make too much 
of high tech instruments when observations can me made easily and 
with less intrusion to the process of observation and personal 
discovery.

Martin


>
>
>
>
>>>>  WAYNE LABAR 03/28/07 8:58 AM >>>
>Ok
>
>Just to be even more different than Joe.
>
>My issue with Wentz scopes is that at times I want the visitor to use a
>real microscope. Getting close and hands on to real scientific
>instrumentation has some serious benefits and implied messages versus
>having science seen through "exhibit objects". 
>
>So at times go with Wentzscopes, at other times working with a real one
>may make a lot of sense.
>
>Wayne
>
>
>***********************************************************************
>More information about the Informal Science Education Network and the
>Association of Science-Technology Centers may be found at http://www.astc.org.
>
>The ISEN-ASTC-L email list is powered by LISTSERVR software from 
>L-Soft. To learn more, visit
>http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html.
>
>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]


-- 
Martin Weiss, Ph.D
Vice President, Science
New York Hall of Science
47-01 111 th Street
Corona, New York 11368
718 699 0005 x 356

***********************************************************************
More information about the Informal Science Education Network and the
Association of Science-Technology Centers may be found at http://www.astc.org.

The ISEN-ASTC-L email list is powered by LISTSERVR software from L-Soft. To learn more, visit
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html.

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]