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> Our studies have consistently shown that content, whether on a graphic panel or the amount of information presented in a program, can easily overwhelm a visitor, 

By "a visitor," of course, what is meant is the big lump of statistical visitors in the middle of a bell curve.
…and so it should come as no surprise that those members of our species who represent an end of that curve, those mature minds that thrive in and even crave dense scholarly environments, and still wish to learn and be challenged through exhibition, and for whom reading is not a chore whether standing up or sitting down, might regret that museums are evaluating and marketing themselves into a certain kind of obscurity. By their measure, that is.
I'm not  presuming to put words in Dawkins' or Rothstein's mouths, but I don't think we should pull those studies out at the beginning of the debate.


--Jason



Jason Jay Stevens
Flutter & Wow Museum Projects

P. O. Box 21576
Detroit, MI 48221

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210.364.6305

On Apr 1, 2013, at 12:13 AM, Wilson, Linda wrote:

> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
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> 
> Alan, I was struck by your statement about the reviewer preferring exhibits with long texts.  Our studies have consistently shown that content, whether on a graphic panel or the amount of information presented in a program, can easily overwhelm a visitor, and less content presented at any one time is more impactful and is retained longer.  We've progressed so far from 'books on walls'.  I wonder if your reviewer really enjoyed standing for long periods, reading allo that <grin> 
> 
> Linda Wilson
> Sr. Director, Impact Assessment
> John G. Shedd Aquarium
> Chicago IL
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> ________________________________________
> 
> 
> Interestingly he seems to have softened his views in recent years, and
> even had nice things to say about the Exploratorium in later reviews.
> Still I've noticed that long texts in any exhibit is an excellent
> predictor of how favorably Mr. Rothstein will review it.  The exhibition
> he liked best at NYSCI was our oldest one, with the most text.  We do
> indeed have our work cut out for us.
> 
> Alan
> ________________________________________
> Alan J. Friedman, Ph.D.
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