Interactive Computer Exhibits For Ages 3-8? 122
Johnny Mnemonic writes "My company has the opportunity to contribute to a children's museum in our area. We are a technology company, so I'd like the exhibit to be computer/networking related, and to raise the awareness and understanding of how the Internet, networking, and computers work. However, children's museums cater to a pretty young age group, 3-8 years old, so the the exhibit needs to be highly interactive, durable, tactile, and yet instructive of the concepts. Google fails to turn up any turn-key options, and, although the concepts are computer related, a computer-based exhibit tends to be too fragile and susceptible to withstand the rigors of 250 preschoolers/day. How would you design a display that meets these requirements and is still fun and educational?"
8yr olds are taller (Score:4, Informative)
I did some exhibitions a few decades ago, but I think the principles would be the same.
Anything that shows 'cause and effect' for the 3 year olds: Press this and this happens.
Don't forget that 8 year olds already use computers in the classroom
You should have an interactive centerpiece - mine was a 'Robot' built on an stand covered with old cards with a speaker as a mouth, based on an Apple ][ with a speech card. The space bar was programmed to cycle through different progs - like math tables, songs (Daisy Daisy from 2001) etc
We had some old hubs and switches with different colored network cables. Not powered at all so they could just plug them in random order.
A continuum of old to new tech as a display - a big daisy-wheel was a real hit. Also any old tech that still works like LCD typewriters, dot matrix printers, coupled modems.
Web Cams with screens out of the way.
Some LAN net talk for the older ones. I had a messaging guest-book system set up.
Fractal displays and interesting screen savers. Set up a SETI for public view.
There's a lot you can do, but don't forget that whatever you set up, it will take maintenance.
CSUnplugged (Score:1, Informative)
Have a look at the Computer Science Unplugged site csunplugged.org. It is mainly classroom activities but it should give some ideas.
Re:Packet Data (Score:5, Informative)
I like this idea.
Where I grew up, we had a children's science museum (Great Explorations: http://www.greatex.org/index.php [greatex.org] ) that I used to visit during summers (they did 1-2 week summer camps). The most popular exhibit (most of them were rotated in and out) was always the Touch Tunnel. Totally dark inside, with corridors, ramps, etc. You had to feel your way through to the end. Kids loved it, even when the lights were on. The idea was really simple: giving kids the experience of relying on something other than their sight, and it was really effective.
It is great to see the author's company contributing to a kid's museum. I still remember some of the things I learned at those summer camps (like the letters of the alphabet in ASL). I always loved learning, but it was those camps that really sparked my interest in the sciences.
I took my adopted sisters there once a few years ago (they were adopted at 5/6 years of age when I was 19). I think I had more fun with the exhibits than they did *grin*
What are your goals??? (Score:2, Informative)
And do they match up with the mission of the museum? I used to manage many of the technology exhibits at Pacific Science Center in Seattle, and I think the first thing to ask is what are you trying to teach to 3-8 year olds? Is your focus on teaching the wonder of technology or is it using technology to teach something else? Robots, logic games, enhanced reality... whatever it is, are you showing the tech or teaching a concept?
As for exhibit design, stability, and usability these are all tried and true in other museums through out the country. Hap controls makes great switches, track balls are more stable than touch screens, and assume the children will taste your entire exhibit, even the parts that don't move.
Basically, encase all your computer works in hand built cases, embed trackballs into cabinetry, and solder in external switches. Some of the best exhibits, especially for young kids don't necessarily need to be hands on. They could be things where computers, video cameras, create an imaginary physical environment the children can play in. A virtual video studio where they can act out a play and then watch themselves is very experiential and gets to use technology they might not have a chance to play with on a large scale.
So, think creatively about what you're trying to showcase and teach, then the design comes after.
Specialised hardware (Score:2, Informative)
There are computers exposed to the general public in places like airports and railway stations. These use specialised hardware referred to as cabinets.
Re:packet routing (Score:5, Informative)
There is a picture here [jst.go.jp] at the bottom of the page. There is also contact information. I'm sure you could get a detailed description of its construction if you wrote them an email.
Good luck!
CS Unplugged (Score:5, Informative)
I'm a big fan of CS Unplugged [csunplugged.org]. It's generally aimed at a slightly older age range, I think, but you can probably adapt some of their demos quite easily.
Re:Physical logic gates? (Score:3, Informative)
using water to create logic gates
I'll second this - Our local science museum ("Science World" in Vancouver) has a water table that the kids just love, with all kinds of gates in it - Every time my toddler rushes towards it I think "Logic Gates."
I don't have a picture of the one in our city to hand, but it looks something like this, so I assume it's a standard item available for purchase by Science Museums:
http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/00/18/3d/8a/water-table-is-good-for.jpg [tripadvisor.com]
It's at least 20 feet long.