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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List members, we could use your help with an upcoming issue of ASTC
Dimensions.

Here's the premise: The 2-million-member online world Second Life now
features 'Splo, a virtual version of the Exploratorium. Online and on-site
visitors to history and art museums "stroll" through three-dimensional
re-creations of Egyptian temples, an 18th-century Mandan village, or ancient
Rome. Nintendo can't keep up with demand for its whole-body-movement Wii
machine, and an eagerly awaited new videogame from Will Wright, creator of
the Sims series, purportedly allows players to build entire galaxies
populated by artificial life forms. 

What does the virtual-reality explosion mean for science centers? Should we
be investing in these new technologies? For the November/December 2007 issue
of ASTC Dimensions, we are looking for examples of ways that science centers
and museums are exploring virtual environments and other immersive
technologies as learning tools. 

If you would like to share with the field what your museum is doing in this
area, or if you know of a promising program elsewhere that we should
include, please e-mail a brief description to me off-list at the address
below by August 7. Also welcome are suggestions on related educational
research. Many thanks!


Carolyn Sutterfield, Editor
Association of Science-Technology Centers
1025 Vermont Avenue NW, Suite 500
Washington, DC 20005-6310, U.S.A.
202/783-7200 x130   Fax 202/783-7207
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