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I'll have to disagree here, Jeff.

I've seen kids using a hand-cranked generator to power different sorts
of devices. They are motivated to get the things working, and feel their
triumph when they do... But they also come away with a "Whew!" kinda
look. I'm just basing this on my unquantified observation, but I think
the concept that "that took a lot of work" and its implication ("I
wouldn't want to have to power everything that way") DOES come across,
loud and clear. 

Visual, audio and mental stimuli don't speak as forcefully as tired
muscles.

Just a thought,
Jonah Cohen
Outreach & Public Programs Manager
The Children's Museum


"Complimentary and alternative medicine" is the technical term for
"something your hairdresser saw on Oprah".
         -Newsweek

-----Original Message-----
From: Informal Science Education Network
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Jeff Courtman


There would seem to be two conceptual issues with most human powered
exhibits (that attempt anything beyond modeling how electricity can be
generated).  First, there is often a disconnect - we want visitors to
leave thinking, "Wow, it's hard work, and a lot of it, to keep a light
bulb lit."  When what they seem to leave with is, "Cool, I made a light
bulb light up."  The other disconnect is one of scale:  We ask them to
power a single (or several devices) and then somehow expect them to
abstract that into macro environment, eg, a whole house, not to mention
a neighborhood, a city, a state, etc.....

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