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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There's certainly evidence to justify the operational expense of floor
staff (in addition to our common-sense observations). I was at a museum
that participated in an industry-wide survey of museums and zoos and
aquariums and we learned that visitors who reported 3 or more positive
interactions with staff were also the ones most likely to give the top
score for overall satisfaction.  That said, many museums are in a position
to staff up sometimes but not all the time, maybe weekends only, or for
school groups only. Some museums I'm working with are  are operating on a
shoestring with one or two staff running the whole museum on weekends. A
staffed maker space is a best case scenario but are you suggesting that
smaller museums should skip "making" altogether?

I'd love to see museums of all sizes move toward "learning through
making"--it seems to have so much more potential than simply pursuing
business-as-usual "learning through hands-on interactives." To offer some
practical suggestions for Paul's client, perhaps a "multiple personality"
maker space can be designed to function in multiple modes with or without
staff to avoid locking up scarce public space when staff are absent. We did
something along those lines in the Mystery Learning Lab at the Museum of
Science and Industry--text panels could be flipped over and 2 versions of
each software program could be launched on the same machines to interact
differently with the same tools (calipers, microscopes, etc). The
facilitated experience was much richer and more complex and required
teamwork across 4 different exhibit components. I called it
"capital-intensive programming"--for once we were giving educators a
big-budget resource to support programming instead of expecting them to
collect paper towel rolls. I'd say maker spaces fall in the
"capital-intensive programming" category--they'll offer the richest, most
complex version of an experience and all the better if there is a fallback
"exhibit mode": I'm picturing tools and supplies that come out of hiding
like Murphy beds. Or those ironing boards that fold up against a wall. Or
the sewing machines that tip over to hide under a flat counter. Or
enclosures like those secretary desks with doors that fold down to create a
work surface and reveal cubbies of tools and supplies. Heck, you could take
that strategy beyond a dedicated maker space and integrate maker tools and
supplies into existing galleries on topics like electricity or airplanes.
Pop-up maker spaces!

On Tue, Jan 1, 2013 at 2:26 PM, Charles Carlson
<[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.
>
> *****************************************************************************
>
> Hi All,
>
> This has been an interesting thread.  I have a few insights to add that
> may be useful.
>
> Staffing is crucial without question, but there's more.  There's a major
> conversational component that provides contextualization and support;
>  every person's brain negotiates it's own path.
>
> One of Frank Oppenheimer's insights was the mutually supportive roles of
> visitors and Explainers.  He eschewed the high school science wiz kids in
> favor of curious and engaging young adults.  It was about equanimity of
> starting point, and not so much about expertise in field, and that was
> revolutionary.
>
> At a few rare times, I've observed visitors asking Explainers to cease and
> desist in their explanations,  but in general even expert visitors enjoy
> and learn from the shared experience. Even if the explanation turns out
> half-baked or wrong at points, which they are on occasion.  There's almost
> know better way to learn something than have to teach it, or do it--as is
> the case for a "make."
>
> I think school groups tend to be a bit more "expert" oriented because
> information transfer is more of a key intent and audience need, but this is
> not so much the case for most other visitors:  most visitors don't flunk a
> museum, but they aren't directly tested on them either.
>
> Given the tremendous benefits of person to person interaction, it's hard
> to imagine stripping away the personal interaction experience.
>
> All the best in the New Year,
>
> C
> Sent from Charlie Carlson's iPad
> [log in to unmask]
> Cell 510-499-8086
> Try me on Skype (510) 984-3543
>
> >>
> >> David Perry
> >> Director of Museum Education
> >>
> >> Oregon Museum of Science and Industry
> >> 1945 SE Water Avenue
> >> Portland Oregon 97214
> >> O 503 797 4585  | F 503 797 4500
> >> E [log in to unmask]  | www.omsi.edu
> >>
> >> Challenge your perspective. RACE: Are We So Different? begins September
> 26.
> >> facebook.com/omsi.museum  |  twitter.com/omsi
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> ------------------------------
> >>
> >> Date:    Wed, 26 Dec 2012 14:49:09 -0800
> >> From:    kevin goodwin <[log in to unmask]>
> >> Subject: Re: Unstaffed Maker Spaces?
> >>
> >> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology
> Centers
> >> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
> institutions.
> >>
> *****************************************************************************
> >>
> >> I work full-time at MAKESHOP in the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh.  I
> have always said that it is not the tools or the materials that make a
> space.  It is the teachers and makers that "make" the space.  I couldn't
> imagine this space without any staff.  But, we are a museum that prides
> itself on staffing all areas.  A maker space cannot exist without resident
> teachers or staff in the space.
> >> -Kevin Goodwin
> >>
> >> --- On Mon, 12/24/12, Paul Orselli <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> >>
> >> From: Paul Orselli <[log in to unmask]>
> >> Subject: Unstaffed Maker Spaces?
> >> To: [log in to unmask]
> >> Date: Monday, December 24, 2012, 11:15 AM
> >>
> >> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology
> Centers
> >> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
> institutions.
> >>
> *****************************************************************************
> >>
> >> Season's Greetings!
> >>
> >> A client is interested in a Maker-type space in their new building, but
> is wondering if it is possible for this type of space to be unstaffed (at
> least at times.)
> >>
> >> It seems counterintuitive to me to have a space with tools and
> materials that is not staffed, but perhaps folks on the list might be able
> to provide some successful examples of (or techniques for) unstaffed
> Maker-type spaces?
> >>
> >> Conversely, feel free to chime in if you think unstaffed Maker spaces
> are a loopy idea.
> >>
> >> ----------------------------------------------------------
> >>
> >> Paul Orselli, President and Chief Instigator
> >>
> >> Paul Orselli Workshop (POW!)
> >> World Headquarters
> >> 1684 Victoria Street
> >> Baldwin, NY  11510
> >>
> >> (516) 223-1043
> >>
> >> POW! website
> >> <http://www.orselli.net>
> >>
> >> Exhibit tips + tricks at the ExhibiTricks blog:
> >> <http://blog.orselli.net>
> >>
> >> ******************************
> >>
> >> ***********************************************************************
> >>
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