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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You know, all the talk on this thread has made me realize: If you think long
lines for people trying to get to exhibits is a problem, at least it's not
the opposite problem of how do we get anybody in the door.
We should all be so lucky as to have the former problem!
Jonah Cohen
Outreach & Public Programs Manager
Science Center of Connecticut
"On blind faith they place reliance,
what we need more of is science"
-MC Hawking
-----Original Message-----
From: Pete St. John [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Monday, August 01, 2005 10:23 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Wait Time at Exhibits
ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
institutions.
****************************************************************************
*
After visiting Disney World and other amusement parks on more than one
occasion, I have often been frustrated at the long times spent in line for
a 4-5 minute ride. Perhaps it's the onset of adult ADD, but I simply get
bored. Granted, anticipation keeps me interested longer, as some of the
posts suggest. Even the attractive lure of a time limit (15 minutes to
go..... 10 minutes to go....) pacifies me. However, in the end, I'm just
bored and beginning to think about my grocery list. Though a museum
setting is far different in it's educational content, I'm not sure it
affects my propensity for boredom. I have begun to look at long lines of
people as captive audiences ready to pay attention to smaller
"interactives" in anticipation of the larger one (granted, this may raise
the bar for the end result a bit). Providing background on super heroes
before watching Dr. Doom square off against the Fantastic Four seems a
start, however what if we had docents on the floor talking about the
science of webs, or how The Thing might actually be stuck together? What
if people had to climb through the aftermath of a Hulk battle to get to the
final exhibit/ride, while learning about radiation or earthquake search and
rescue techniques? What if we looked at long lines as a great opportunity
for education rather than a nuisance to move through before the real
education can begin? Has anyone designed the line into the exhibit? Not in
terms of providing extra music or time passing "eye candy", but a fully
interactive, supportive, part of the exhibit.
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More information about the Informal Science Education Network and the
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To remove your e-mail address from the ISEN-ASTC-L list, send the
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