Improving the Effectiveness of Science-Technology Center Exhibits

April 1st, 1986 - March 31st, 1990 | PROJECT

The New York Hall of Science will develop a major exhibition on quantum theory--one of the most important developments in physical science in this century and one which has not been significantly treated by science museums. This exhibition will be the first major museum program to introduce quantum theory and its applications to the public. Elements of the exhibit will include models of the atom, the puzzle of light, applications of the theory and, finally, the human story of the creation of a new theory. Numerous participatory exhibits will be developed in conjunction with the project so that visitors can learn by doing. Formative evaluation will be an integral part of this exhibit. This technique has recently been adopted by museums as a way to test exhibit prototypes with museum visitors and then redesign as necessary. A workshop will be held for museum personnel and a guidebook, Improving Exhibits Through Formative Evaluation, will be produced. This book will be the first complete description of the formative evaluation process and will be a valuable addition to the museum field.

Project Website(s)

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Team Members

Alan Friedman, Principal Investigator, New York Hall of Science

Funders

Funding Source: NSF
Funding Program: ISE/AISL
Award Number: 8550953
Funding Amount: 319579

Tags

Audience: Evaluators | General Public | Museum | ISE Professionals
Discipline: Chemistry | Education and learning science | Nature of science | Physics
Resource Type: Project Descriptions
Environment Type: Exhibitions | Museum and Science Center Exhibits