Subject: | |
From: | |
Reply To: | |
Date: | Fri, 17 Nov 2006 10:48:27 +0000 |
Content-Type: | text/plain |
Parts/Attachments: |
|
|
ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
*****************************************************************************
At 03:37 17/11/2006, Paul Orselli wrote:
>Ah, not so fast, Ian.
>:
>Some of my favorite playful/APE/constructivist/Museum 2.0 exhibit
>experiences do seem to share some subtle framing mechanisms, that
>increase visitors' engagement. That sets these types of exhibit
>experiences apart from someone just tossing a pile of sticks and
>crayons on the floor and calling it a "visitor-directed creativity
>exhibit"
More wonderful stuff. I didn't mean my tongue-in-cheek comment about
APE and play in any negative sense!
I believe exploratory play is the profoundest aspect of the human
intellect. It can work wonders with that cheap pile of sticks and
crayons but, yes, to approach its full potential it really needs the
best exploratory environments and 'framing mechanisms' we can
provide. It thrives and learns in such environments, but it's still play.
And 'play' is still marginalised, because it's seen as what little
kids do with sticks and crayons. Big money continues to invest in
'single-specific-learning-outcome' exhibits which broadcast a worthy
'message' yet achieve only superficial Engagement, that is more
passive than Active, and seldom Prolonged.
Suggesting that projects like APE are tapping into the power of play
was my highest compliment.
[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
***********************************************************************
More information about the Informal Science Education Network and the
Association of Science-Technology Centers may be found at http://www.astc.org.
To remove your e-mail address from the ISEN-ASTC-L list, send the
message SIGNOFF ISEN-ASTC-L in the BODY of a message to
[log in to unmask]
|
|
|