Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Nature of Exhibits About Acoustics in Science and Technology Centres

  • Published:
Research in Science Education Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This is a study of the opportunities currently provided by interactive science and technology centres for visitors’ engagement in the field of acoustics. E-mails, requesting a description of exhibits on acoustics (sound and hearing) in use, were sent to members of staff of interactive science and technology centres around the world as well as to companies that design and sell exhibits. Eighty-seven descriptions of distinctive interactive exhibits were received and analysed. Results show that: there are few analogy-based exhibits concerning the more complex aspects of acoustics; narratives involving visitors’ everyday lives, that might provide continuity between and beyond the situations presented by exhibits, are not generally provided; science is emphasised at the expense of technology; the risks, benefits and ethical implications of relevant technological artefacts are rarely mentioned; the majority of the exhibits are concerned with the fields of fundamental acoustics, hearing, and psychoacoustics. It is suggested that interactive science and technology centres need to rethink the design of exhibits about acoustics if their mission includes some appreciation of this important branch of science and technology.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. Engineering is defined as “the knowledge required, and the process applied, to conceive, design, make, build, operate, sustain, recycle or retire, something of significant technical content for a specified purpose;-a concept, a model, a product, a device, a process, a system, a technology” (Malpas 2003, p. 6)

References

  • Allen, S. (2004). Designs for learning: Studying science museum exhibits that do more than entertain. Science Education, 88, S17–S33.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Afonso, A. S., & Gilbert, J. K. (2006). The use of memories in understanding interactive science and technology exhibits. International Journal of Science Education, 28(13), 1523–1544.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Afonso, A. S., & Gilbert, J. K. (2007). Educational value of different types of exhibits in an interactive science and technology centre. Science Education, 91(6), 967–987.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arnold, K. (1996). Presenting science as product or as process: museums and the making of science. In S. Pearce (Ed.) Exploring science in museums (pp. 57–78). London: Athlone.

    Google Scholar 

  • Au, W. W. L. (1997). Hot topics in animal bioacoustics. The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 101, 2433–2441.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Axelsson, A. (1991). Leisure noise exposure in adolescents and young adults. Journal of Sound and Vibration, 151(3), 447–453.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barnes, B. (1982). The science technology relationship: A model and a query. Social Studies of Science, 12, 166–172.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bedford, L. (2001). Storytelling: The real work of museums. Curator, 44(1), 27–34.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beyer, R. T. (1999). Sounds of our time: Two hundred years in acoustics. New York, NY: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bradburne, J. M. (2001). Going public: Science museums, debate and democracy. The Review of Education, Pedagogy, and Cultural Studies, 23, 349–379.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carliner, S. (1998). How designers make decisions: A descriptive model of instructional design for informal learning in museums. Performance Improvement Quarterly, 11(2), 72–92.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cheeke, J. D. N. (2000). Fundamentals and applications of ultrasonic waves. London: CRC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clark, W. W. (1991). Noise exposure from leisure activities: A review. Journal of the Acoustics Society of America, 90(1), 175–181.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Donald, I. (1974). SONAR – The story of an experiment. Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology, 1, 109–117.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dunbar, K. (2001). The analogical paradox. Why analogy is so easy in naturalistic settings, yet so difficult in psychological laboratory? In D. Gentner, J. K. Holyoak, & B. N. Kokinov (Eds.) The analogical mind: perspectives from cognitive science (pp. 313–334). Cambridge, MA: MIT.

    Google Scholar 

  • Errington, S., Stocklmayer, S., & Honeyman, B. (Eds.) (2001). Using museums to popularise science and technology. London: Commonwealth Secretariat.

    Google Scholar 

  • Feher, E., & Rice, K. (1988). Shadows and anti-images: Children’s conceptions of light and vision, II. Science Education, 72(5), 637–649.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Feynman, R. P., Leighton, R. B., & Sands, M. (1963). Lectures on physics. London: Addison-Wesley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fligor, B. J., & Cox, L. C. (2004). Output levels of commercially available portable compact disc players and the potential risk to hearing. Ear and Hearing, 25(6), 513–527.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fowlkes, J. B. (1997). Hot topics in medical acoustics. Journal of the Acoustics Society of America, 101(5), 3120.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gentner, D. (1983). Structural-mapping: A theoretical framework for analogy. Cognitive Science, 7, 155–170.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gilbert, J. K. (2001). Towards a unified model of education and entertainment in science and technology centres. In S. Stocklmayer, M. Gore, & C. Bryant (Eds.) Science communication in theory and practice (pp. 123–141). Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Kluwer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gilbert, J. K., Boulter, C. J., & Elmer, R. (2000). Positioning models in science education and in design and technology education. In J. K. Gilbert, & C. J. Boulter (Eds.) Developing models in science education (pp. 3–18). Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Kluwer.

    Google Scholar 

  • House of Lords (2000). Science and technology – Third report. Retrieved May 6, 2004, from http://www.parliament.thestationaryoffice.co.uk/pa/ld199900/ldselect/ldsctech/38/3801htm

  • Kahr-Højland, A. (2005). The narrative as a means of presentation in informal learning settings. Paper presented at the 17th Nordic Conference on Media and Communication Research, Aalborg, Denmark, August.

  • Kokinov, B., & French, R. M. (2003). Computational models of analogy making. In L. Nadel (Ed.) Encyclopedia of cognitive science (pp. 113–118). London: Nature.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kryter, K. D. (1980). Physiological acoustics and health. Journal of the Acoustics Society of America, 68(1), 10–14.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ku, J. H. (2006). British acoustics and its transformation from the 1860s to the 1910s. Annals of Science, 63(4), 395–423.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kurjak, A. (2000). Ultrasound scanning – Prof. Ian Donald (1910–1987). European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, 90, 187–189.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kurtz, K. J., Miao, C., & Gentner, D. (2001). Learning by analogical bootstrapping. The Journal of Learning Science, 10(4), 417–446.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lindsay, R. B. (1968). Acoustics and its teaching. Physics Education, 3, 62–66.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lindsay, R. B. (1980). Acoustics and the Acoustic Society of America in historical perspective. Journal of the Acoustics Society of America, 68(1), 2–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lynch, J. F. (2000). Hot topics in acoustical oceanography. Journal of the Acoustics Society of America, 108(5), 2566.

    Google Scholar 

  • Malpas, R. (2003). The universe of engineering: A UK perspective. London: The Royal Academy of Engineering.

    Google Scholar 

  • Martin, L., & Toon, R. (2005). Narratives in a science center: Interpretation and identity. Curator, 48(4), 407–425.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McClafferty, T. (1995). Did you hear the message? Visitors use and understanding of a sound exhibit at interactive science centres. Poster presented at the Annual Meeting of the National Association for Research in Science Teaching, San Francisco, CA, April.

  • Miller, J. D. (1974). Effects of noise on people. Journal of the Acoustics Society of America, 56(3), 729–764.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Namorato, M. V. (2000). A concise history of acoustics in warfare. Applied Acoustics, 59, 101–135.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) (1998). Criteria for a recommended standard: Occupational noise exposure, revised criteria. Retrieved January 31, 2005, from http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/98-126.html

  • Pedretti, E. G. (2004). Perspectives on learning through research on critical issues-based science center exhibitions. Science Education, 88, S34–S47.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Perales-Palacios, F. J. (1997). Escuchando el sonido: Concepciones sobre acústica en alumnus de distintos niveles educativos. Enseñanza de las Ciencias, 15(2), 233–247.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rix, C., & McSorley, J. (1999). An investigation into the role of school-based interactive science centres may play in the education of primary-aged children. International Journal of Science Education, 21(6), 577–593.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rosenblith, W. A., Barger, J. E., Elliott, L. L., Embleton, T. F. W., & Apfel, R. A. (1980). Thoughts on the future of acoustics. Journal of the Acoustics Society of America, 68(1), 76–79.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shapere, D. (1982). The concept of observation in science and philosophy. Philosophy of Science, 49(4), 485–525.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Simmons, L. W. (1989). Bioacoustics. The international journal of animal sound and its recording. Animal Behaviour, 37(5), 877.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spindel, R. C. (1997). Oceanographic and navigational instruments. In M. J. Crocker (Ed.) Encyclopedia of acoustics (pp. 581–589). New York: Wiley.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Stinson, M. R. (2003). Hot topics in noise. Journal of the Acoustics Society of America, 114(4), 2404.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stocklmayer, S. (2001). Reaching the public – Communicating the vision. In S. Stocklmayer, M. Gore, & C. Bryant (Eds.) Science communication (pp. 143–148). Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Kluwer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stocklmayer, S., & Gilbert, J. K. (2002). New experiences and old knowledge: Towards a model for the personal awareness of science and technology. International Journal of Science Education, 24(8), 835–858.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stocklmayer, S., & Gilbert, J. K. (2003). Informal chemical education. In J. K. Gilbert, O. de Jong, R. Justi, D. F. Treagust, & J. H. van Driel (Eds.) Chemical education: Towards research-based practice (pp. 143–164). Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Kluwer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Tlili, A., Cribb, A., & Gewirtz, S. (2006). What becomes of science in a science centre? Reconfiguring science for public consumption. Review of Education, Pedagogy, and Cultural Studies, 28, 203–228.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Viator, J. A., & Pestorius, F. M. (2001). Investigating trends in acoustics research from 1970–1999. Journal of the Acoustics Society of America, 109(5), 1779–1783.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wade, G. (2000). Human uses of ultrasound: Ancient and modern. Ultrasonics, 38, 1–5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Woodward, J. (2000). Data, phenomena and reliability. Philosophy of Science, 67, 163–179.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Educação e Psicologia, Universidade do Minho, Minho, Braga, Portugal

    Ana S. Afonso

  2. Institute of Education, The University of Reading, Reading, UK

    John K. Gilbert

Authors
  1. Ana S. Afonso
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. John K. Gilbert
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ana S. Afonso.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Afonso, A.S., Gilbert, J.K. The Nature of Exhibits About Acoustics in Science and Technology Centres. Res Sci Educ 38, 633–651 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11165-007-9067-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11165-007-9067-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation