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

Regarding Alan's comment on Mr Rothstein:

<<<Still I've noticed that long texts in any exhibit is an excellent
predictor of how favorably Mr. Rothstein will review it.  The exhibition
he liked best at NYSCI was our oldest one, with the most text.  We do
indeed have our work cut out for us.>>>

In my experience Mr. Rothstein does not read the text in the context of
visiting the actual exhibit. Rather he asks for a print out of all the text
so he can read it later at his leisure. When I commented that the text and
the exhibits were meant to be experienced at the same time, he dismissed my
concerns by saying he had "a good imagination."



On Thu, Apr 4, 2013 at 4:24 PM, Nina Simon <[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 folks,
>
> I just wanted to let you know that this thread sparked a blog post on
> Museum 2.0 exploring the differences between science center and art museum
> interpretation. The comments are particularly fabulous.
>
> http://www.museumtwo.blogspot.com/2013/04/why-do-we-interpret-art-and-science-so.html
>
> Having "grown up" in the science center world before shifting over to
> cultural and art museums, I'm always completely flummoxed by the extent to
> which informal learning theory and related interpretative strategies have
> stayed segregated to the science center side of the aisle.
>
> Thanks for the inspiration!
>
> Nina
>
>
> Nina Simon
> 831.331.5460
> [log in to unmask]
> skype, twitter, flickr, facebook: ninaksimon
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Apr 2, 2013, at 8:34 AM, Wilson, Linda 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 Alan, Jason Mac and others
> > I am not by any means saying exhibits should be simplistic or
> condescending. Nor do I disagree that some museum exhibits fail in just
> that way.
> >
> > Great exhibits should be accessible to most visitors (including "the big
> lump of statistical visitors in the middle of a bell curve") , and
> interpretation at its best is seamlessly integrated into the overall
> experience.  Formative evaluation does not tell us what should be in an
> exhibit, but can tell us if what we are planning resonates with
> participants and whether or not it can be accessed successfully.
> >
> > I admire the New York Hall of Science for taking risks in presenting
> very complex topics and making changes, sometimes small, sometimes large,
> to maximize that accessibility, and using multiple ways to convey
> information, raise questions, allow for feedback and encourage interaction.
> >
> > Beverly Serrell, when she convened her 'excellent judges' group a few
> years ago, made a distinction between an evaluation and a critique.  That's
> perhaps what we are seeing here.  Both are needed but they perform
> different functions.  Perhaps we could ask, what is the function of a
> review like this and how does it complement evaluations.
> >
> > Our field is not unique.  In impact evaluation one of the questions is,
> can expert testimony 'count' as a form of impact assessment.
> >
> > Linda Wilson
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Jason Jay Stevens [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> > Sent: Monday, April 01, 2013 7:36 AM
> > Subject: Re: Richard Dawkins, the Exploratorium and Exploding Custard
> >
> > ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology
> Centers Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
> institutions.
> >
> *****************************************************************************
> >
> >
> >> Our studies have consistently shown that content, whether on a graphic
> >> panel or the amount of information presented in a program, can easily
> >> overwhelm a visitor,
> >
> > By "a visitor," of course, what is meant is the big lump of statistical
> visitors in the middle of a bell curve.
> > ...and so it should come as no surprise that those members of our
> species who represent an end of that curve, those mature minds that thrive
> in and even crave dense scholarly environments, and still wish to learn and
> be challenged through exhibition, and for whom reading is not a chore
> whether standing up or sitting down, might regret that museums are
> evaluating and marketing themselves into a certain kind of obscurity. By
> their measure, that is.
> > I'm not  presuming to put words in Dawkins' or Rothstein's mouths, but I
> don't think we should pull those studies out at the beginning of the debate.
> >
> >
> > --Jason
> >
> >
> >
> > Jason Jay Stevens
> > Flutter & Wow Museum Projects
> >
> > P. O. Box 21576
> > Detroit, MI 48221
> >
> > [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
> > 210.364.6305
> >
>
>
> ***********************************************************************
> For information about the Association of Science-Technology Centers and
> the Informal Science Education Network please visit www.astc.org.
>
> Check out the latest case studies and reviews on ExhibitFiles at
> www.exhibitfiles.org.
>
> The ISEN-ASTC-L email list is powered by LISTSERVR software from L-Soft.
> To learn more, visit
> http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html.
>
> 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
> [log in to unmask]
>



-- 

*Liza Reich Rawson*
*Senior Exhibition Developer & Project Manager
Exhibitions & Featured Experiences*
*Liberty Science Center*
Liberty State Park
222 Jersey City Blvd.
Jersey City, NJ 07305 USA
T: 201.253.1445
F: 201.451.6383
E: [log in to unmask]
W: www.lsc.org

***********************************************************************
For information about the Association of Science-Technology Centers and the Informal Science Education Network please visit www.astc.org.

Check out the latest case studies and reviews on ExhibitFiles at www.exhibitfiles.org.

The ISEN-ASTC-L email list is powered by LISTSERVR software from L-Soft. To learn more, visit
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html.

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
[log in to unmask]