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Subject:
From:
Ian Russell <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Informal Science Education Network <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Tue, 31 May 2005 10:49:03 +0100
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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.
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At 12:30 26/05/2005, you wrote:
>So when we met together to consider the findings, none of us liked the very
>literal names and we were considering another test run when one of the
>researchers said that, actually they'd been calling it Techniquest
>throughout the survey. We all agreed that that was what we called it too, so
>that's how we ended up with the name.  Not a great evaluation story I'm
>afraid.

I'd mis-remembered the details, but still think it IS a great evaluation 
story. Like the enlightened landscape designers who watch where people walk 
before laying out a path, you allowed time for the right concept to 
crystallise. During the extended process, sensitivity to public perceptions 
was sharpened.

Instead of blindly relying on formal evaluation results, the much-neglected 
RIRO principle was sensibly applied when the suitability of the names used 
for the test was questioned. (RIRO = Rubbish In Rubbish Out)

Going back to my copy of Steve Pizzey's 1987 book, I see that Techniquest's 
bright colour-scheme and simple visual forms were a very careful 
counterbalance to the first half of the name: 'Techni-'.


[log in to unmask] * http://www.interactives.co.uk
*
Give people facts and you feed their minds for an hour.
Awaken curiosity and they feed their own minds for a lifetime.
*
Ian Russell 

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