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From:
Louis Rawlins <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Informal Science Education Network <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Fri, 23 Aug 2013 08:52:25 -0700
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ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
*****************************************************************************

So, this thread intrigues me.

While I agree that skills, learning and creativity should be gauges of
whether a "maker" space is working in a science center, I'm still not sure
there is a firm definition of what we are talking about.

I don't mean to get too abstract, and I don't work in a science center, but
it feels to me that the whole idea of a science center is to inspire
inquiry and potentially the desire to build something that interacts with
the physical world. Isn't that pretty much a "maker" space too?

I've never cared for the term "maker" partly for this reason. It's vague
and opposes consumers from producers in a way that feels a bit artificial.

I think, the fad that is being referred to gets confused with events like
Maker Faire where you have everything from electronics to puppets, to
string, to math -- all cool and useful stuff, but much of it puts people in
the context of being a consumer, in an event about how to be a producer.


When I think this sort of thing, I think of spaces and events dedicated to
this sort of inquiry and creation, but not necessarily in science centers:

https://www.noisebridge.net

http://www.techshop.ws

http://dorkbot.org/dorkbotsf/

http://www.eyebeam.org


Eli, Can we get a better definition of what you'd like to ask for your
presentation? Or are you just looking for a survey of "maker" spaces in
science centers?


Thanks for the thread. :)

Peace,  Louis


On Thu, Aug 22, 2013 at 5:52 PM, Erich Rose <[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.
>
> *****************************************************************************
>
> Well put Eric. In five years how many makerbots will be collecting dust in
> a storeroom?  And your spot-on about developing the human skills that are
> what really make these spaces work.
>
> Erich Rose
>
> Erich Rose Design
> Austin, TX
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Aug 22, 2013, at 7:46 PM, 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.
> >
> *****************************************************************************
> >
> > its not a good question (though it is the question that the funder asked
> a few weeks back, about which we had the earlier discussion).  A better
> question is which aspects of making are working well and which ones need to
> be explored further in informal settings.  As I wrote earlier, when a
> funder asked me about this, I suggested that she seriously consider
> proposals that upgraded the staff skills for conducting maker projects, and
> be less supportive of proposals that were about new equipment.
> >
> > eric
> >
> > On Aug 22, 2013, at 4:28 PM, Raphael Rosen <[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.
> >>
> *****************************************************************************
> >>
> >> I don't have any comments at the moment, but I am following the trend
> >> myself, and would be interested in what you say at the conference.
> >>
> >> Raphael
> >>
> >> -------------
> >> Raphael Rosen
> >> www.raphaelprosen.com
> >> @raphaelrosen22
> >>
> >>
> >> On Thu, Aug 22, 2013 at 4:58 PM, 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.
> >>>
> >>>
> *****************************************************************************
> >>>
> >>> I am doing a Pecha Kucha presentation at this coming ASTC 2013 annual
> >>> conference on the topic of whether maker's labs are a fad, as some
> people
> >>> say or a revolution as posited by Chris Anderson, former editor of
> Wired
> >>> magazine. I would love hear people's comments for and against as I
> want to
> >>> include them in the presentation to ensure that it will be valuable for
> >>> attendees. I of course, as many of you know, have passionate opinions
> about
> >>> the topic, but uncharacteristically I will refrain from commenting.
> Please
> >>> let me know what you think and more importantly links to examples of
> >>> different ways science centers are implementing these programs.
> >>>
> >>> ***********************************************************************
> >>> For information about the Association of Science-Technology Centers and
> >>> the Informal Science Education Network please visit www.astc.org.
> >>>
> >>> Check out the latest case studies and reviews on ExhibitFiles at
> >>> www.exhibitfiles.org.
> >>>
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> >>
> >> ***********************************************************************
> >> For information about the Association of Science-Technology Centers and
> the Informal Science Education Network please visit www.astc.org.
> >>
> >> Check out the latest case studies and reviews on ExhibitFiles at
> www.exhibitfiles.org.
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> >
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> ***********************************************************************
> For information about the Association of Science-Technology Centers and
> the Informal Science Education Network please visit www.astc.org.
>
> Check out the latest case studies and reviews on ExhibitFiles at
> www.exhibitfiles.org.
>
> The ISEN-ASTC-L email list is powered by LISTSERVR software from L-Soft.
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Tha

***********************************************************************
For information about the Association of Science-Technology Centers and the Informal Science Education Network please visit www.astc.org.

Check out the latest case studies and reviews on ExhibitFiles at www.exhibitfiles.org.

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