I work for an organization that places artists and architects into
schools for extended residencies.  In May 1998, we will be exhibiting
students' work from our Architects-in-Schools program at the AIA
Convention in San Francisco.  We would like to include some interactive
components that will engage visitors in understanding the basic tenets
of architecture and the built environment.  The theme of the convention
is "bridges" so we would like to keep the interactives as closely
related to that as possible.  Also, the exhibits will be up for about
one month and we have about three months to prepare, so they need to be
kept simple and inexpensive.

One idea is to have building materials, a space to be spanned, and some
weights.  With examples of different bridge structures, visitors will
experiement making their own bridges across the given span and test
their structures with the weights.

Another idea is to have a matching game of designs found in nature and
similar designs found in architecture.

And of course, there are the wonderful examples of bridge interactives
as seen at the Exploratorium in San Francisco.

Also, we are working on ideas for "remote" interaction via the internet
in order to keep the students in the classroom connected to what is
happening at the exhibit site.  One idea was to have an e-mail
connection so that visitors to the exhibits can send comments and
feedback to the students.  However, this isn't really interaction as it
is a one-way communication system.  Another thought is to set up some
kind of list.serv or discussion group just for the month of the exhibit
so that all exhibit sites and classrooms can be connected in an on-going
conversation.  However, if a visitor to the exhibit enters the
conversation and isn't their to receive a response, then this really
isn't interactive either.  Maybe setting up a real-time chat room at
designated times of the day would work.

We also have a general web site for LEAP and might include a page
specifically for this exhibit (with a map of all exhibit locations and a
calendar of events) that we could turn into a cyber gallery of students
work and comments by visitors when the exhibit is finished.

Please respond if you have any suggestions regarding on-site or remote
interaction.  Your thoughts are much appreciated.

Thank you,
Deborah Bain
Programs Assistant
Leap...imagination in learning