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Hello Clark,
I have a few cents to throw in to this discussion, though most people
will see that they make little sense at all.
Little kids don't need 'immersive' environments. The world is so new to
them that the whole dang thing is an immersive environment, filled with
wonder, a new experience around every corner. A pile of damp sand, a
loving parent and a plastic bucket and shovel is all they need. I would
throw out the plastic bucket and shovel too, but then us exhibits
designers would have nothing to sell. Of course in your case, sand might
not be as appropriate as a woodland to explore or some mucky mud hole
filled with worms and crawly things.
As for parents, they might not be so comfortable traipsing around a real
pond with their kids - too many unknowns and 'dangers.' These simulated
environments do provide a measure of safety and control and help parents
interact with their kids in some new ways - not necessarily better ways,
but different, and that's okay. These 'sets' provide a context for
conversation and for activities. Again, this context is more important
to the parent than to the kid, who is likely only interested in the
things to do.
Because you're in a nature center and not at a 'science center' or
children's museum, what you are after might be somewhat different than
the kinds of things we normally see in these other places. You'll
likely get some good pointers here on how to answer the needs of the
parents (comfort, safety and a few others.) Once you take care of the
parents (and probably the funders) make sure it answers the kids'
needs. Keep asking yourself, as Ted Ansbacker recently reminded us,
'what will kids DO in this exhibit?' If you can give them a nice
collection of things to do, it won't matter so much to the them what the
environment looks like. You'll have a winner.
Joe Ruggiero
Hancock, Clark 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 Guys,
>
> We're starting to kick around ideas for an immersive "pond" exhibit for
> the preschool set - no actual water would be involved, probably. Anyone
> know of any guidelines, articles, studies, etc. that might be helpful?
>
> Clark Hancock
> Exhibit & Collections Coordinator
> Austin Nature & Science Center
> 301 Nature Center Dr.
> Austin, TX 78746
> (512) 327-8181 ext.14
> (fax) (512) 327-8745
>
> work schedule: Tues - Sat
>
> "Big things that are distant too often take precedence over important
> things right under the nose."
> -Roy Bedichek
>
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> 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.
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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.
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