With our team, I traveled to other museums with makerspaces and visited local private schools and libraries that were incorporating CAD software, drone workshops, 3D printing and laser cutting and thought, “I want all children in Las Vegas to have this experience.” I am excited to say that this is the first-of-its-kind public space in Southern Nevada, and by incorporating technology, we are also serving as a model for other children’s museums around the country. Coming to DISCOVERY after working at a museum and school of fine arts, I understood first-hand the way that hi-tech tools could be used as part of artistic creation, and how the model of “design thinking” is helping to build the skills needed to solve problems in our ever-changing society through empathy, ideas, prototyping, and testing. And there you have a makerspace-where anything a child can conceive, they can learn to make, and see come to life before their eyes.Īt DISCOVERY, we decided to install a makerspace based on feedback we received from our members and visitors for more advanced hands-on art, technology and science projects for their older children, building upon those activities that we rotate in our Young at Art and Patents Pending galleries. Then, add to that a computer lab where children can learn STEM oriented pursuits such as coding, 3D printing, laser cutting and robotics-and make puzzles, games, circuits, and functional objects. Think of it as the name for a 21st century shop class with real tools-such as woodworking with hammers and glue guns-or home economics with sewing and arts and crafts-such as pottery, origami and jewelry design. The first question I am often asked when I talk about the new DISCOVERY Lab is, “What exactly is a makerspace?” Well, a makerspace is where you make something. With the opening of DISCOVERY Lab in February 2019, we are challenging families to work together and explore the world of creation. Together, these two initiatives have expanded our efforts of offering all children the opportunity to explore their deepest curiosities while addressing the core educational areas of science and nature, art and culture and early childhood development. The museum has always been dedicated to the promotion of STEM learning through its exhibits however, since my time at DISCOVERY, we have launched new efforts including the Museums for All program for families on assistance, as well as the newly opened DISCOVERY Lab. The museum spans across 26,000 square feet of interactive and educational hand-on exhibits and is home to nine exhibition galleries featuring immersive traveling exhibits, daily programs, demonstrations and activities and collaborative programing for all occasions. Throughout the museum, guests can delve into three entire floors packed with heart-pumping, brain-boosting, curiosity-satisfying fun, adventure and discovery. As the premier children’s museum in Las Vegas since 1984, DISCOVERY Children’s Museum has worked very hard to ensure that it encompasses a welcoming place for all children and families to explore and create.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |