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Date: | Wed, 28 Mar 2007 09:30:39 -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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Wayne;
There is something to using "real equipment" however there are skills
necessary to having a meaningful experience with "real" instruments
and a problem of "abuse" due to just so many visitors using an
instrument. Perhaps this means using them in a facilitated space?
Many of the experiences we've observed visitors having with living
materials is the thrill of seeing something alive and I think this is
independent of using a Wentzscope (or even a hand lens) or a
microscope that conforms to a visitors image of a "real" instrument.
I think if the experience for our visitors is discovery of something
new and different (like the inside of a large protozoan). The
instrument maybe incidental. In the recent Darwin exhibition much was
made of Darwin's use of a hand lens and if they had been able to give
each visitor a hand lens to sue in the exhibition it would have
enhanced the sense of discovery. Sometimes I think we make too much
of high tech instruments when observations can me made easily and
with less intrusion to the process of observation and personal
discovery.
Martin
>
>
>
>
>>>> WAYNE LABAR 03/28/07 8:58 AM >>>
>Ok
>
>Just to be even more different than Joe.
>
>My issue with Wentz scopes is that at times I want the visitor to use a
>real microscope. Getting close and hands on to real scientific
>instrumentation has some serious benefits and implied messages versus
>having science seen through "exhibit objects".
>
>So at times go with Wentzscopes, at other times working with a real one
>may make a lot of sense.
>
>Wayne
>
>
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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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