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

As a tangent to recent discussions on ID,
providing meaningful science experiences/exhibits, etc.
I'd like to commend three books to folks' attention.

The first two are currently available, the third will be available
next month from the Exploratorium about Project APE.
(APE in this case stands for Active Prolonged Engagement.)

The Cliff's Notes version of these books is that:
1) Great stories make great experiences
2) Giving people access to materials for making their own experiences
is both empowering and meaningful.

We all try to incorporate these ideas into our museums, but I 
nevertheless found
interesting new "twists" on the above ideas in each of the books below.

1) "A Whole New Mind"  by Daniel Pink

2) "FAB: The Coming Revolution on Your Desktop--
 From Personal Computers to Personal Fabrication"
by Neil Gershenfeld

3) Fostering Active Prolonged Engagement -- The Art
of Creating APE Exhibits  by The Exploratorium APE Team

One of the things I've been thinking about more and more recently
is that whoever tells the most compelling stories seems to control
the public mindscape.

Science Museums have the best content in the universe (literally)
maybe we need to think more about different ways to present
our ideas.

Enjoy the rest of summer!
--------------------------

Paul Orselli

Paul Orselli Workshop (POW!)
1684 Victoria Street
Baldwin, NY  11510

(516) 223-1043  voice

(516) 238-2797  mobile

www.orselli.net

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