Hello
My name is Helen Featherstone and I am studying for an MSc in Communicating Science at Techniquest (interactive hands-on science centre) in the UK. I don't have answers to all these questions but here is my two penneth worth:


>
> If would like to see the results of this (besides
> seeing it on Museum-L and the archives), I would be
> happy to send you a copy.
>
> 1.) Realistically, what was the time frame for the
> whole project—from initial idea to implementation?
>

No specifics here, but we (as students) have developed workshops on minimal budgets that have taken 3 months from idea to implementation. This 3 months also includes us doing our other coursework as well.

>
> 2.) Was you room funded by your museum?  An Outside
> Source?  A Grant?  An individual?
>

Petty cash! and the British Association for the Advancement of Science

>
> 3.) What was the general cost range of the whole project?
>

They really were minimal, but for activities where we wanted the children to take things away we used materials from recycling places e.g plastic bottles.

>
> 4.) Did you seek the help of (or did you use) an outside
> designer?   If so, what were the advantages or disadvantages
> of outside assistance?
>

Not really applicable to us! but consistency in design is important. As is getting in designers who have done this sort of thing before. Don't forget to look at some of their work, be careful of glossy pictures though! The stuff may have looked great for a week and then fallen
apart, go and see the stuff in situ.

>
> 5.) Do you have any specific recommendations from your
> experience concerning security and/or stocking of supplies?
> For example, do you have a staff member or volunteer present
> at all times?
>

this is always of concern, things will walk, and there is nothing worse than going to a work station where some of the necessary tools and consumables are missing. Having a staff member/volunteer who is sensitive to these sort of needs will be very useful.

>
> 6.) I have seen many discovery rooms that use one work (or
> item) as jumping off points to address larger issues.  (For
> example: using a piece in your collection, such as an Andy
> Warhol, to explain what POP art is.)  If this is how you
> have structured your room, how, specifically, do you direct
> children to the actual object?
>

Don't know!

>
> 7.) Is your room “High tech” or “Low tech” and what are
> the benefits of each?
>

At Techniquest we have a Discovery Room with Discovery Boxes. The Boxes are themed and contain artifacts, games, information etc about one particular topic e.g bones, leaves, insects...
the boxes are well made and sturdy, with the contents of similar robustness (never underestimate the strength of a 9 year old!). For specimens that are fragile, it is important to store them so that they won't be destroyed be handling. This might mean having insects resin cast so
they can be looked at, inspected and remain intact. This also leads to other problems: drop the resin cast bug on a toe and it can hurt! make sure it is a nice friendly shape (no pointy corners) and has a protective edging, this protects toes and prevents the resin shattering. Think
along these lines for any object: if it is dropped will it survive or will it injure?

>
> 8.) Did you have an activity that looked fabulous on
> paper, but was not successful in reality?  In retrospect,
> what would you have done differently?
>

All our activities worked to a greater or lesser extent, but then they had to! we had very few chances for formative evaluation.

>
> Thank you so much for your time and expertise.
>
> Cheekwood is located in Nashville, TN and is both a museum
> and a botanical garden.  We have a relatively small room in
> which we would like to create 4-5 “stations” centered around
> a painting from our collection, a decorative art, an outdoor
> sculpture, and a garden.  We would also like to have a “make-it
> take-it” table for children to do art projects.
>
> Leslie Brown
> Assistant Curator of Education
> Cheekwood Museum of Art
> 1200 Forrest Park Drive
> Nashville, TN 37205
> www.cheekwood.org
> [log in to unmask]
> 615.356.3519
>
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