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The Exploratorium was not considered a science museum, nor art museum, nor recognized locally or internationally as much of anything being worthy of attention. We in fact got the PFA, because space abhors a vacuum.  It was a politically expedient move.   It was a crazy idea with some interesting crazy props called exhibits.  The actual position of the original Tactile Gallery and the Steam Engine, as well as other museum exhibits were strategical placed to prevent territorial encroachment by our hostile co-tenants.

As with just about everything that happens under "learning,"  humans are horrible research model organisms.  We're stuck with it however.  It's easy "to know" when something's working and difficult to prove.

C



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On Aug 3, 2013, at 7:50 AM, Eli Kuslansky <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
> *****************************************************************************
> 
> Calling these lab a fad reminds me of a bank VP who was a mainframe guy
> thought PCs were a fad. I wonder what the traditional science museum people
> were saying in 164 when the Exploratorium opened? In this challenging
> environment with science centers struggling to retain their relevance and
> expand their audience beyond younger kids, experiments like this are
> essential even if the final version looks a lot different. The sustainable
> model for these labs are not evident yet.
> 
> 
> On Sat, Aug 3, 2013 at 8:29 AM, Eric Siegel <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> 
>> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
>> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
>> institutions.
>> 
>> *****************************************************************************
>> 
>> Thats an interesting historical note, charlie.
>> 
>> e
>> 
>> On Aug 3, 2013, at 12:45 AM, Charles Carlson <[log in to unmask]>
>> wrote:
>> 
>>> Its a fad that comes and goes periodically.   It will ultimately prove
>> too costly to operate  on a continuous basis, but is well worth the passing
>> investment of time and energy.  I reflect that demonstrations and
>> mentorship are not far from this domain of hands on museum activity.
>>> 
>>> It may more than anything reflect the current job market for young
>> people, and shifting social dynamics, and a lack of vocational and lab
>> opportunities in schools.  It's a valuable component of hands on engagement
>> via exhibits.
>>> 
>>> In any case, it's heartening that museums can foster extended learning
>> and tinkering.  It falls well within the current emphasis and interest in
>> engineering in schools, and is lots of fun.
>>> 
>>> The Exploratorium would have been a large tinkering space but was
>> limited by resources.   Hands on exhibits were a compromise solution to the
>> original problem, but they also found traction and efficacy with respect to
>> learning.
>>> 
>>> C
>> 
>> 
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