EcoTarium

The Worcester Natural History Society (aka the EcoTarium) will work in partnership with the ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center (Burlington, VT), Children's Museum and Theatre (Portland, ME), and The Discovery Museums (Acton, MA) to create a community of practitioners with in-depth knowledge of exhibit design for family learning, using formative evaluation and creating exhibits that foster open-ended investigation. In each year of the project, a different partner will take the lead and develop interactive prototypes in addition to sharing their ideas from initial concept through final design. The professional development workshops, team meetings, staff exchanges, and Web conferences will foster a mutual understanding of the exhibit design process and have a direct impact on participating staff by growing a network of peers with specialized experience and knowledge.