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explo opened in 69 (NY Hall of Science opened in 64!).  There were no traditional science museum people to doubt the explo's strategies. there are only two or three science museums...franklin, msi, and ontario of that vintage (NYSCI practically closed for a decade or more after the fair, so we don't really belong to the first wave.)

The computer quotation is probably a misremembering of a misquote attributed to Thomas Watson, who led IBM in the 50's-60's.  He never said what is often attributed to him "there is a worldwide market for perhaps 5 computers."  

FWIW, NYSCI is devoting about 1/3 of its exhibition space to Design Lab, which is all facilitated maker-style activities.  We are leading a grant funded collaborative with several other museums to share strategies and resources around design based learning, the Tech, Boston, Minnesota, Explora, TELUS Spark.  We host World Maker Faire.  We are completely restructuring our Explainer training to support this kind of learning. So we are all in.  

It was a funder who was wondering if this is a fad--not me-- and while I wish it were adequate to tell this funder "no, it isn't,"  I don't think that will work.  Rather, I suggested that s/he look for proposals that are about people and skill building, rather than about equipment, as I think this is an effective proxy to distinguish between those who want to make a sustained go of this approach, and those who are superficially engaged.

I do find what charlie says, that interactive exhibits were a "compromise" between the desire to make the whole explo a tinkering space and the exigencies of running a museum very interesting.  Charlie, if you could send me some more documentation or description of that offline, I'd really appreciate it.

e

On Aug 3, 2013, at 10:50 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.
> *****************************************************************************
> 
> Calling these lab a fad reminds me of a bank VP who was a mainframe guy
> thought PCs were a fad. I wonder what the traditional science museum people
> were saying in 164 when the Exploratorium opened? In this challenging
> environment with science centers struggling to retain their relevance and
> expand their audience beyond younger kids, experiments like this are
> essential even if the final version looks a lot different. The sustainable
> model for these labs are not evident yet.
> 
> 
> On Sat, Aug 3, 2013 at 8:29 AM, Eric Siegel <[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.
>> 
>> *****************************************************************************
>> 
>> Thats an interesting historical note, charlie.
>> 
>> e
>> 
>> On Aug 3, 2013, at 12:45 AM, Charles Carlson <[log in to unmask]>
>> wrote:
>> 
>>> Its a fad that comes and goes periodically.   It will ultimately prove
>> too costly to operate  on a continuous basis, but is well worth the passing
>> investment of time and energy.  I reflect that demonstrations and
>> mentorship are not far from this domain of hands on museum activity.
>>> 
>>> It may more than anything reflect the current job market for young
>> people, and shifting social dynamics, and a lack of vocational and lab
>> opportunities in schools.  It's a valuable component of hands on engagement
>> via exhibits.
>>> 
>>> In any case, it's heartening that museums can foster extended learning
>> and tinkering.  It falls well within the current emphasis and interest in
>> engineering in schools, and is lots of fun.
>>> 
>>> The Exploratorium would have been a large tinkering space but was
>> limited by resources.   Hands on exhibits were a compromise solution to the
>> original problem, but they also found traction and efficacy with respect to
>> learning.
>>> 
>>> C
>>> 
>>> 
>> 
>> 
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