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Date: | Mon, 1 Aug 2005 10:23:22 -0400 |
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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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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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