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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Anne,

I think this is a difficult question for a number of reasons.  I think
it depends on whether or not you have staff/volunteers on the floor to
facilitate engagement.  I think it also depends on what visitors can do
with your exhibits.  It can also be influenced by the environment.  

In the ASTC Dimensions from Jan/Feb 2003 an article on floor staff
educational impact noted that "average length of stay in one area
without floor staff was 56 seconds.  When live programming and hands-on
activities were added, visitor time investment increased to 4 minutes 59
seconds.  Satisfaction with the gallery also improved significantly."   

Our staff facilitate engagement by asking questions in a style like that
of Hilda Taba and other question types and sequences to support inquiry.
We also may provide additional materials to assist visitors in pursuing
their own lines of inquiry.

That being said, our exhibits also have multiple entry points for
visitors and many possible outcomes of their activities with an exhibit.
If I am limited to pushing a button, and a sign tells me what is going
on or what I am supposed to learn from the exhibit, then I am afraid my
engagement is going to be limited also.  

At our center, all school group visits are facilitated by an Explora
educator.  We split them into groups of 30 maximum and take each group
to a different part of the museum to start their visit.  We then
facilitate exhibit engagement in that area before moving with them to
the next area.  A typical 2 hour school visit spends about 40 minutes in
each of our 3 main areas.  Explora educators are also able to model
behavior and act as co-learners with the students which can also assist
teachers and chaperones by providing positive approaches to influence
constructive, thoughtful behavior for their students.  

Our environment also plays a big role.  All exhibits have stools at them
inviting people to sit and linger, to take their time.  The exhibit
floor is also set up like a rabbit warren with lots of nooks and
crannies where 3 or 4 exhibits form a cluster.  In this manner people
are able to focus on what is in front of them and not be distracted by
things going on in other areas (reduced 'window-shopping' effect?).  It
slows the pace and provides for semi-privacy while at the same time
facilitating small group sharing.  

Like I said, a difficult question...

Hope some of this is helpful.

Sincerely,

Eric 

Eric Meyer
Explorations/Special Projects Manager
Explora
www.explora.us
 
1701 Mountain Rd. NW
Albuquerque, NM 87104
 
[log in to unmask]
505-224-8386 phone
505-224-8310 fax
-----Original Message-----
From: Informal Science Education Network
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Anne Herndon
Sent: Tuesday, November 02, 2010 3:50 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Enriching field trip experiences

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

Good afternoon, all.   

We are in the process of looking at ways to enrich the exhibit field
trip experiences of the teachers and students who come on a field trip,
particularly on a heavy field trip day-which for us can be about 1,500
in the exhibit galleries.

I was wondering if you all could share some of the techniques and tips
you use to help teachers and chaperones use your exhibit galleries
effectively.  The tips could be operational in nature (how to get groups
to not all visit the same gallery at the same time) or educational in
nature (how do you help groups go deeper into the educational
experiences of the exhibit and not just "window-shop" from component to
component).

Thanks in advance,
Anne


Anne Herndon
Director, School and Group Programs
Fort Worth Museum of Science and History
1600 Gendy Street
Fort Worth, Texas  76107
817-255-9521
[log in to unmask]

-----Original Message-----
From: Informal Science Education Network
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Gordon, Myles
Sent: Tuesday, November 02, 2010 4:41 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Art/Science

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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