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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Maria-

We developed a bunch of very successful engineering exhibits & 
accompanying activities, with NSF funding, for a traveling exhibition 
"Tech City."  The exhibits are about engineering-- but in subtle, 
inviting way.  So it includes exhibits on earthquake testing, tiling the 
city plaza, a sound studio, wind tunnel, designing a menu, etc.  And the 
most popular exhibit was "Dam the Creek"--  kids (& adults) would spend 
up to 45 minutes trying different ways to dam the 8' long waterway.

The exhibits lent themselves to the "engineering method" to iteratively 
design, test, refine, etc. We heard many wonderful conversations about 
tradeoffs between costs and safety, or aesthetics, or...  While enjoyed 
by families and kids of various ages, we worked hard to make middle 
school age girls and minorities feel especially welcome (i.e., engineers 
are not just white males who design bridges and have pocket protectors).

There's a fast-paced 7-minute video "Ask An Engineer" with a group of 
pre-teens who interview a diverse group of engineers, and tour several 
different engineering facilities-- from Fernando who studies how hands 
work (Biomedical engineering), a woman supervisor at a big power plant, 
to a diverse group who run the facilities at a big aquarium.  Thousands 
of copies have been been distributed by the National Engineers Week 
Foundation and it should become available for viewing at 
www.teachersdomain.org (WGBH in Boston).

Descriptions of the exhibits and photos: 
 http://www.sciencenter.org/exhibits/d/techcity_rental_flyer.pdf

Quicktime video of the exhibits in use: 
 http://www.sciencenter.org/exhibits/d/techcity.mov

Kathy Krafft
Exhibit Projects Director
Sciencenter
Ithaca, NY
607-272-0600 ext 25


Subject:
Re: multi media use in science centres and museums
From:
Maria Sanchez-Kennedy <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Wed, 17 May 2006 11:58:07 -0600


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

I was wondering if anyone had any great examples of hands-on engineering
exhibits or activities?

A Program of the Bessemer Historical Society Maria Sanchez-Kennedy Executive
Director Bessemer Historical Society 1612 E. Abriendo Ave. Pueblo, CO 81004
[log in to unmask] tel: fax: 719-564-9086 719-564-5533 Add me to
your address book... Want a signature like this?

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