The Science Center’s main exhibit area was teeming with young people of all ages as well as a number of adults including teachers and parents. All of the exhibits were quite busy with lines of children waiting their turn, so I didn’t have an opportunity to interact with the more popular ones (I thought it would be rather unseemly to shove a child out of the way…). Most of the exhibits had something visual either with light, motion or imagery, to attract attention. Those that were more subtle or less obvious were the least crowded.

Learning objectives were conveyed by several different means including signage connected with each display, teachers and museum aids who circulated to answer questions and guide participants, and study guides that many students carried with them. The study guides seemed to be especially effective at getting students to engage more extensively with the exhibits. The students who had the guides collaborated with each other and spent more time with each exhibit.