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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Hey Jonah...
"Take Aparts" are a regular part of our program. And you don't need to limit yourself to older children (I know your museum is changing gear to a younger crowd.) Even with preschoolers, you can get them going on what tool you use for what (phillips vs. flat screwdriver, for example). Little kids will enjoy just seeing what the insides look like.
We do require that children AND staff wear goggles for this; little pieces can fly, and we don't want anyone to get hit in the eye. As others have suggestion we stay away from TVs and monitors, also cutting blades (blenders). We tend to avoid printers mainly because they can make an *enormous* mess and we've had parents get quite upset. I agree with others that good bets include computer parts (keyboards are super), VCRs, phones, clocks, radios, etc.
A great source is to find a local repair shop. Ask them if they've got anything that is beyond hope and offer to take it away. I also send out periodic request to staff (our IT guys are usually good for a dead keyboard or two), and between those two sources, we're usually kept in pretty good supply.
good luck!
AD
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Alissa Daniels, Science Program Manager
Boston Children's Museum
617-426-6500 x342
www.BostonChildrensMuseum.org
The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is not "Eureka!" (I found it!) but "That's funny..." --Isaac Asimov
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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.
>*****************************************************************************
>
>Howdy n hi. Yet another query about engineering stuff:
>
>
>
>We've been fidgeting with the idea of a program where people would get to
>take tools and take apart various machines (TVs, speakers, pagers, VCRs,
>hard drives etc) and see what's inside. Initial testing looks promising -
>those neodymium magnets in computer hard drives sure are boss!
>
>
>
>But I wanted to consult my more mechanically minded cohorts about the
>potential hazards of this activity. I know that some contraptions have
>capacitors whose charge needs to be drained. It was pointed out to be that
>some devices might also contain hazardous materials one might not want to be
>mucking about with.
>
>
>
>Any safety advice from those who have done this kind of thing?
>
>
>
>Soon to be underwater,
>
>Jonah Cohen
>
>Outreach and Public Programs Manager
>
>The Sci... er... The Children's Museum
>
>
>
>I cannot stress enough that nearly without exception one cannot randomly
>combine a collection of circuitry and power supplies into an object and
>"accidentally discover" that it is a fully functioning death ray. I speak
>here from bitter experience.
>
>-James Kakalios, "The Physics of Super Heroes"
>
>
>
>
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--
Beryl Rosenthal, Ph.D.
Director of Exhibitions and Public Programs
MIT Museum
265 Massachusetts Ave.
Cambridge, MA 02139
Tel: 617-452-2111
Fax: 617-253-8994
[log in to unmask]
"A great place to explore ideas, invention, and innovation:
http://web.mit.edu/museum"
***********************************************************************
More information about the Informal Science Education Network and the
Association of Science-Technology Centers may be found at http://www.astc.org.
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]
***********************************************************************
More information about the Informal Science Education Network and the
Association of Science-Technology Centers may be found at http://www.astc.org.
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]
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