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Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
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Hello Glen,

I didn't mean to imply that there was some problem with the group itself 
or that the museum needs to to come down harder on badly behaving groups 
- though in some extreme cases this just has to be done.  But it's not 
all  the kids' fault  Excitement and interest is good. That's what we're 
after.

I would bet - with some exceptions - that many of the problems we see 
with school group visits happens when the museum is approaching its 
visitor capacity - which might be significantly less than the maximum 
occupancy posted on the wall by the building department. It's hard 
enough to understand group dynamics but just try to figure out the 
dynamics of groups of groups.  Encouraging free exploration is great 
when the place is half full. But that same exploration is seen as chaos 
when the number doubles, not to mention that the quality of the 
exploration goes down as occupancy goes up. So, you can give all the 
speeches and post all the rules you want, but if the institution ignores 
the facts of their exhibit floor, they share in causing the problem.

Truly, chaperones don't always do their jobs diligently and the kids are 
left completely on their own.  This isn't by itself a problem if the 
kids are engaged with the exhibits.  The problems really start to grow 
when the museum environment is not only crowded but largely 
uninteresting to the kids. Though there should be standards of good 
behavior, I can't really blame the kid too much for being bored and 
looking elsewhere for their entertainment, especially if they are having 
a hard time getting close to popular exhibits

So, though chaperones don't always do a good job - or do it too well, or 
there are occasionally 'problem cases,' kids with too much 'energy,' 
lets say, I think there are times that some of the 'blame' has to be 
placed at the doorstep of the institution. I've seen it with my own eyes 
and have even been a party to it.  Guilty as charged.


Joe R
www.TheExhibitGuys.com





Glen Moore wrote:

>ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
>Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
>*****************************************************************************
>
>Joe
>
>Our strategy is to post 'conditions of entry', provide pre-visit written info to teachers, talk to students and teachers about the 'rules' upon arrival and provide 1 (active, involved) guide per 15 children. And yet the behaviour described still happens occasionally.
>
>The very nature of the hands-on environment in science centers generates excitement, encourages self paced discovery and interaction between visitors. I have seen student interest destroyed by teachers and guides being too obsessed with discipline. The vastly different behaviour of school groups is a clear indication that the behaviour in the science center is largely due to factors outside their control.
>
>Glen
>gkm at SCP 
>  
>


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