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

Hey Eli. Thanks for the elaboration.


Some continued thoughts.

You ask whether "making" is a passing phase or something that can motivate
real, long term results.

Generally speaking, and I'm over-simplifying here, I look at the kernel of
the question being asked. Like, in the Exploratorium, bar none, the exhibit
that got me the most are the rectangles of different tinted plastic that I
can overlay on a mirror to play with light. It's a really deep experience,
and doesn't require much by way materials. It addresses fundamentals of
life, perception, and gives a person a sense of control and mastery over
these things.

I look at interactive exhibits (both creating and experiencing) in a
similar way. What setups are really helping people go in depth into
themselves and what it means to be in the world?

As regards advocacy, I'm not sure I fully understand your statement.

I think advocacy efforts are wonderful and needed, but I would be wary of
looking at it as a long term strategy solely for a science center. You can
help a community as an investment in the people, yes, but if you are
helping to educate a town and the people in it, I feel like the aim should
be to "bridge" knowledge that needs to be learned. I believe it should be
time-limited, especially if you are "maker" tools-based and not just
looking to support the critical inquiry is lacking in (US, at least)
education today. Tools change fast, humans do not.


Your efforts are cool, and I'm looking forward to the presentation. I hope
you share it with the group. :)

Cheer!  Louis


On Sat, Aug 24, 2013 at 11:10 AM, Eli Kuslansky <[log in to unmask]>wrote:

> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
> institutions.
>
> *****************************************************************************
>
> Hi Charlie,
> First, ! am looking for what types of makers labs are functioning now or
> are being considered. From what I was told third hand, OMSI decided to have
> makers activities function as a thread throughout their existing and new
> exhibits instead of doing a separate makers lab. NYSCI is doing a design
> lab but focused on a young audience. The Tech is shifting from a teacher
> organization to a community resource along with labs where they posit
> design challenges. At the Teknista Museet in Stockholm, Sweden, they have a
> lab for younger audiences where firms and other researchers can bring in
> projects and products for the kids to test. I would like to get sense of
> what other models are out there, what's working and what's not?
>
> The other topic I am interested in knowing about is this burning question
> that is not just on funder's minds but being asked in conferences by
> exhibition design firms, directors of science centers, AND funders is
> whether or not this is a trend that will ultimately be a vehicle to
> transform science centers or just be a passing phase.
>
> The other trend relevant to this is the breakdown between formal and
> informal education and the roles science centers play in society. There are
> those that believe that these labs should just be another program in their
> current model of informal science education for young kids, and there are
> those that believe it is way overdue to re-image the field. Along with the
> question of "...which aspects of making are working well and which ones
> need to be explored further in informal setting" is why just in informal
> settings and which aspects are working well for what purpose? I believe the
> Science Center in Iowa is working with local schools to teach formal
> science.
>
> For those science centers who use makers labs as an extension of informal
> science for kids, I believe are missing a tremendous opportunity to create
> a more powerful role in society without having to taking on advocacy, and
> reach a broader audiences they say they want to reach.
>
> Eli
>
>
> On Fri, Aug 23, 2013 at 1:13 PM, Charles Carlson <
> [log in to unmask]
> > wrote:
>
> > ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
> > Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
> > institutions.
> >
> >
> *****************************************************************************
> >
> > Dear Louis,
> > I had the same question.  I think that Chris Anderson has primarily
> > focused on the possibility of profitable, distributed manufacturing
> across
> > a global village surrounded by a cloud of invention embedded in a
> > knowledge-based culture, where all humans are made equal and each is
> > supported by his own device and reliant his own uniquely determined
> brain.
> >
> > Things will change.  The means of production has changed, and humans have
> > changed.  I think much of the excitement of the Maker Movement existed in
> > some form or other back as far as we can see.
> >
> > C
> > On Aug 23, 2013, at 8:52 AM, Louis Rawlins <[log in to unmask]>
> > wrote:
> >
> > > 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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