Improving the Effectiveness of Science-Technology Center Exhibits

纽约科学馆将举办一场关于量子理论的大型展览——量子理论是本世纪物理科学中最重要的发展之一，也是科学博物馆尚未重视的一个理论。这次展览将是第一个向公众介绍量子理论及其应用的大型博物馆项目。展品将包括原子模型、光的谜题、理论的应用，最后是人类创造新理论的故事。许多参与式展览将与该项目相结合，让游客可以边做边学。形成性评价将是本次展览不可或缺的一部分。这种技术最近被博物馆采用，作为一种让参观者测试展品原型的方法，然后在必要时重新设计。将为博物馆工作人员举办讲习班，并编写一本指南，题为《通过形成性评价改进展品》。这本书将是形成性评估过程的第一个完整描述，将是一个有价值的博物馆领域的补充。

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.