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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Unfortunately, technology in it's coolness can be very seductive.  So often
science centers wind up spending huge sums on high tech effects that become old
and outdated much too quickly.

To me, it's part of the underlying concern that museums should be competing
with Disney (or, at the very least, Six Flags) for visitorship -- and can only
do so with similarly impressive tech.  To be honest, since Disney and Six
Flags are way richer than any science center in the world, they'll always have
cooler technology (if the point is solely to amuse and entertain).  What they
WON'T have, though, is the real deal -- live animals, real artifacts, workshops,
labs, docents, streams for exploring, star parties, and on and on.

I've always felt the key to selling our product is not technology but
science.  "Here's something you'll never, ever find at Six Flags -- or at school --
or even at Disney."  If anything, compete with them on the level of a really
super family experience -- or something great for teens -- or a unique first
date.  What museums do so well (and inexpensively) is programming.  Virtual
soccer, IMAX rock concerts and such are nice additions, but hardly worth spending
money on if you have to cut back on, say, explainers and liquid nitrogen!

Lisa
A few years ago I wrote an article, aimed at children's museums, titled <If
Technology is the Answer, What Was the Question?: Technology and
Experience-Based Learning>.  Basically it argued that technology was
appropriate when it
supported inquiry, and was inappropriate when it impeded or eclipsed inquiry;
and
it described some of the ways in which technology could do both of these
things. The article might still be of interest to some, and can be found at
www.scienceservs.com under <Articles>.

Lisa Jo Rudy, Writer/Consultant
625 Chelten Hills Drive
Elkins Park, PA 19027
www.lisarudy.com
215-635-9735

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