ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
*****************************************************************************

Regarding the thread on podcasts in museums, science centres, galleries
and so on ...

Seems to me the most exciting aspect of the explosion in podcasts and
blogs is that the institution does NOT control them. In my humble
opinion, this isn't about more information - what we choose or do not
choose to put out there - but rather about the *response* engendered
among those outside the traditional framework. 

Podcasts and blogs give our publics a very big stage upon which to
comment and discuss our collections and exhibits and programs and
architecture and so on without any mediation - or interference - from
us. For me, the most interesting use of the media so far are those
podcasts that provide "unauthorized" tours of the collections. These
tours seem able to promote dialogue among people who are outside the
purview of the institution and by doing so they have the potential to
"open up" the science centre and museum to a more democratic structure.
You can't prevent these "tour guides" from coming in the door. What
impact can and/or will this kind of dialogue and democracy have on our
roles in society?  

Chris

M. Christine Castle, Ph.D.
Editor, Museum Education Monitor
[log in to unmask]  
http://www.mccastle.com   

***********************************************************************
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]