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Date: | Thu, 2 Mar 2006 09:43:06 -0500 |
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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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Andy;
Funny you should ask that question. We have begun two programs that
are aimed at our younger audience. The first is a research program
(just funded by NSF) to understand how to explain the biological
basis for evolution to children under 12 yo. There is research
(primarily done by Dr Margaret Evans at U of Michigan) that shows
that children can be prepared to understand evolution if the
developmental stages they go through in their cognitive development
is taken into account. We hope to translate that work into an
exhibition and programs for science centers to use in presenting
evolution. This maybe applicable to presenting complex science, in
general, in science centers by looking at children's cognitive
development in other areas eg mathematics. This would also be
applicable to other informal settings; like zoos, aquaria, botanical
gardens, natural history museums and nature centers. If anyone wants
more information or references let me know.
I'd be particularly interested if anyone has developed any programs
based upon an understanding of children's cognitive development
The second project is one to develop carts which our Explainers will
use to engage our family audiences in technology. Probably nothing
novel in the use of carts but we are specifically aiming at family
groups which at the Hall are composed of children average age 7 yo.
Anyone having experience, both positive and negative wish to share
experiences?
Martin
>Hi everyone
>
>could I take this question a little further? Has anyone encountered
>presentations of contemporary science and technology (in exhibitions
>and/or programmes) specifically aimed at children under 10? We,
>along with many science centres (I suspect) are seeing our audience
>gradually get younger. I want to try and run with this, but I don't
>know if anyone else already has. Any thoughts?
>
>Cheers
>
>Andy
>Centre for Life
>Newcastle, UK
>
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--
Martin Weiss, Ph.D
Vice President, Science
New York Hall of Science
47-01 111 th Street
Corona, New York 11368
718 699 0005 x 356
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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
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