Papers/Presentations
Ready… Set… Create
Often we confuse reactive exhibits with interactive ones, we assume that pushing a button is interactive, however it is reactive with a close ended result in the form of a specific outcome. On the other hand, interactive exhibits are open ended with branching outcomes allowing wondering and exploration, a sandbox is interactive with the many possibilities you can do with it. What if our exhibits are further supported with interactive and hands-on programs?
This workshop will explain how museums and science centers are spaces that employ informal communication through exhibits and programs to communicate history, discoveries, stories, and arts in an attempt to create memorable learning experiences.
The Children’s Museum Jordan’s team will explain the differences between reactive and interactive exhibits, and how programs are designed to support exhibits in a small talk, then the attendees will work in groups on the tables with mystery boxes on each table.
Inside each box is a group of materials representing an exhibit, each table will work together to develop a program for the exhibit in their box; to develop the program they need to understand the exhibit, interpret its content, and contextualize it to make it relevant to their culture and center/museum.
They will then work on a program targeting schools and family audiences setting an age group in the range of 6 to 12 years old. They will need to take in to consideration the following:
• What type of experience will they create?
• What activities could be created to enhance the exhibit experience?
• How is it relevant to their context and culture?
At the end of the workshop, the attendees will be able to make links between the exhibits and programs.
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Papers/Presentations
Education for Times of Conflict
The MENA region is suffering conflict and political turbulence that is affecting the educational sector. While education remains to be the main source for intellectual prosperity and development, more and more children are facing challenges to attain their rightful education. In such conflicted times, more than 6 million children still do not get proper education. Schools are being demolished, barriers to movement are established and the quality of education diminishes. Students are suffering from psychological, mental and physical effects. On this backdrop, there arises a need to address the future of education.
In “Education for times of conflict”, the speakers address emerging issues affecting the educational process, and the arising need for supportive educational systems and alternative innovative methods. The challenges educational systems face in times of conflict vary from geographical barriers to content restrictions and psychological trauma. How do you reach your students? How do students reach information? Are regular educational systems sufficient under times of conflict? How do you consider psychological and psychosocial distress? Furthermore, conflicts originate refugees whose children need to be included in a new educational framework. This panel will touch on many variables and present examples from across the region.
Al Nayzak for Supportive Education and Scientific Innovation employs different tools and mechanisms to reach out its target audience, from school students to entrepreneurs and science enthusiasts. Ciência Viva, in Portugal, is collaborating with NGOs and scientific institutions to develop special programs to promote the inclusion of children from conflict areas.