Thursday, September 11, 2008
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
CCM video from Saturday
Observations:
_Stairs - too many
_Where do you put the strollers?
_Children don't perceive obstacles. They just step on things or jump over them.
_Run from one place to another
_They use their whole body to move around
_Abuse exhibits and space
_Varying levels of involvement from Parents
Add more observations if you notice any.
Monday, September 8, 2008
826 Valencia
Here's the link to 826 Valencia, Dave Egger's non-profit writing workshop/tutoring center.
http://www.826valencia.org/
We should check out the Chicago one!
http://www.826valencia.org/
We should check out the Chicago one!
Link to images
Here is the link to my flickr images. look on the side under the set titled "studio".
http://www.flickr.com/photos/27344784@N08/sets/72157607181075705/
Good Magazine - Playground Article
Couldn't link the article directly so I've uploaded it to our folder on the portal. Check it out.
Thoughts on Sir Ken's Creativity Talk
-unpredictability of what the world will be like in 5, 10, 15 years__how do we prepare children for this?
-children innately have creativity, curiosity, fearlessness...how do we evoke/harness these qualities in adults?
-Hierarchy of subjects in education:
top - math, lang
humanities
arts
art and music
drama and dance
-the most useful subjects are those geared towards work...is this what the goal of education is?
-the system of public education is geared towards university entrance
-academics, academic inflation
-Intelligence is interactive (brain isn't divided into compartments)...this is how the space should be as well
-educating the whole being
-children innately have creativity, curiosity, fearlessness...how do we evoke/harness these qualities in adults?
-Hierarchy of subjects in education:
top - math, lang
humanities
arts
art and music
drama and dance
-the most useful subjects are those geared towards work...is this what the goal of education is?
-the system of public education is geared towards university entrance
-academics, academic inflation
-Intelligence is interactive (brain isn't divided into compartments)...this is how the space should be as well
-educating the whole being
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Creativity Interview
Interview with Ken Robinson. Interesting and straight foward definition of creativity & the role of imagination.
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Mystery on Fifth Avenue
I read about this really cool apartment on Fifth Avenue in NYC a while back so I searched for the article with the thought you all might be interested as well...The architect built a series of puzzles into the apartment without the the owners knowing. READ MORE HERE
PBo Notes/Observations
Crown Fountain 08/31
Observations_
Younger kids [4 and younger] are closely watched by parents or older siblings.
Parents are usually within 4-6 ft of their smaller children.
There is a quieter zone with all the benches where all the adults sit and watch.
They love taking pictures of their kids.
Lots of bystanders without children.
Lots of strollers.
Navy Pier 09/01
Observations_
Going up the escalators, the children always went first.
When sitting, the strollers with or without children clog up walkways
Escalators don't accommodate strollers. Parents loaded strollers and then lifted the back end up to level out the stroller.
When parents walk with smaller children they often hold hands.
Lincoln Park Zoo 09/01
Observations_
Lots of strollers.
Lots of extended families or larger families moving together in packs.
Entering buildings was difficult for families with strollers.
Strollers were also often used to carry and store purses, bags, shopping bags.
Chicago Children's Museum 09/06
Observations_
Many parents or adults were sitting around and watching children or supervising from afar.
Many of the educational signs were in small type in both english and spanish. Overall too much writing.
Many of the kids were role-playing in the Skyscraper exhibit, they wore aprons and safety goggles.
In the Waterways exhibit, the kids got to pick out raincoats based on size and color.
Interview: Couple no.1_
Parents were younger and very engaged with playing with their child in the exhibit.
They said they played with their kid because they had a lot of fun too.
They said it's cool, because they get to learn in a physical way. They work out their brains and muscles at the same time.
They come one to two times a month. They are orginally from the city, but they said they like coming to the city now from the suburbs with their daughter. Their daughter really enjoys taking the train too.
The other places they take their daughter is the playground or zoo when they don't come to the CCM.
They said they spend sometimes eight hours there. They sneak in coffees to stay awake.
The Dad thought the new Grant Park location is great for the CCM and didn't have any concerns about it's underground location other than the quality of light.
Interview: Single Dad
He played the wall and was talking to a woman most the time while his kid played around.
He thought it was important for the kid to play on her own and learn from her mistakes.
He's been the CCM twice, the last time was two years ago.
He didn't care that the new museum was going to be underground. He thought it might a little dark though.
Interview: Couple No.2
Both Mom and Dad were very engaged and encouraging of their daughter in the exhibit.
They were in the Inventing Lab.
They thought the CCM was awesome and definitely a great place for their daughter to come and learn.
They go to the CCM once a year.
They come once a year.
Observations_
Younger kids [4 and younger] are closely watched by parents or older siblings.
Parents are usually within 4-6 ft of their smaller children.
There is a quieter zone with all the benches where all the adults sit and watch.
They love taking pictures of their kids.
Lots of bystanders without children.
Lots of strollers.
Navy Pier 09/01
Observations_
Going up the escalators, the children always went first.
When sitting, the strollers with or without children clog up walkways
Escalators don't accommodate strollers. Parents loaded strollers and then lifted the back end up to level out the stroller.
When parents walk with smaller children they often hold hands.
Lincoln Park Zoo 09/01
Observations_
Lots of strollers.
Lots of extended families or larger families moving together in packs.
Entering buildings was difficult for families with strollers.
Strollers were also often used to carry and store purses, bags, shopping bags.
Chicago Children's Museum 09/06
Observations_
Many parents or adults were sitting around and watching children or supervising from afar.
Many of the educational signs were in small type in both english and spanish. Overall too much writing.
Many of the kids were role-playing in the Skyscraper exhibit, they wore aprons and safety goggles.
In the Waterways exhibit, the kids got to pick out raincoats based on size and color.
Interview: Couple no.1_
Parents were younger and very engaged with playing with their child in the exhibit.
They said they played with their kid because they had a lot of fun too.
They said it's cool, because they get to learn in a physical way. They work out their brains and muscles at the same time.
They come one to two times a month. They are orginally from the city, but they said they like coming to the city now from the suburbs with their daughter. Their daughter really enjoys taking the train too.
The other places they take their daughter is the playground or zoo when they don't come to the CCM.
They said they spend sometimes eight hours there. They sneak in coffees to stay awake.
The Dad thought the new Grant Park location is great for the CCM and didn't have any concerns about it's underground location other than the quality of light.
Interview: Single Dad
He played the wall and was talking to a woman most the time while his kid played around.
He thought it was important for the kid to play on her own and learn from her mistakes.
He's been the CCM twice, the last time was two years ago.
He didn't care that the new museum was going to be underground. He thought it might a little dark though.
Interview: Couple No.2
Both Mom and Dad were very engaged and encouraging of their daughter in the exhibit.
They were in the Inventing Lab.
They thought the CCM was awesome and definitely a great place for their daughter to come and learn.
They go to the CCM once a year.
They come once a year.
ak children museum notes
"explore * discover * learn"
safety - jobs/careers
ship - jungle gym
skyline - beautiful watercolor
open layout...almost too much walkway, made the exhibits seem smaller.
Build-Create
most interactive spot between parents and kids.
Most popular site was the jungle gym ship
Waterworks was another popular site...good ideas...better execution of the design would encourage more interaction between parents and kids.
Focus on community, neighborhood, boosting self-esteem.
artwork center: focus on sculpting, reading, painting
What kids their age wanted to change about their communities and neighborhoods:
trash
have block parties
more trees
less gun violence
more attention to younger kids to keep them out of gangs
share knowledge.
large chess set
some kids knew how to play
others just kicked the pieces
archaeological dig site
interesting idea, since our site is underground. this area managed to keep the children entertained, but the parents just sat and watched. a huge sense of discovery though for the kids.
game telephone came to mind
Big Backyard area, cool idea, but underutilized. i liked being able to catch the rain.
Inventors..."kids are some of the best inventors"
make a flying machine and time how long it took to land from the top of the tower.
video game...goal was to get the backpack into the clubhouse
move obstacles around to achieve goal
inventors their age - relate to other kids and become inspired
piano slide-
made noise as you slid down
self - esteem boosters
write a compliment and give it to your child
tell us what you like about your face...etc.
shadows
materials: soft, hard, very durable. overall extremely boring, and lack of color.
treehouse: raised above ground
cabins - washing dishes
veggie garden
trails - canoes
streams
ponds
bridges - treehouse slide - peter pan's neverland came to mind
animal homes
climbing at a campsite
play space was locked on a saturday!
ambulance - liked to climb inside of it see how it feels to be behind the wheel.
stairs were a huge inconvenience. and took up some of the largest space.
most of the museum seemed to be directed towards ages 9 and below.
Children's Museum Notes
Chicago Children’s Museum: 9/6 Notes
Interiors:
-use of bold colors on first floor – red, green, blue, yellow
-signage uses large, bubble-like letters, lower to the ground
-but many signs have lots of text
-many house-like structures to go into and explore
-different areas of the floor covered in different materials – wood, linolium, industrial-type carpet
-2nd floor lobby has a sky/cloud theme, painted pastel blue, exposed ceiling
-each area like a separate room with different age-group focus, subject theme
-many balcony-like spaces for watching children, different vantage points
Activities:
-building with nits and bolts, blocks (adults often assisting in these activities)
-oversized games of chess, checkers, tic-tac-toe, dominoes
-computer invention game
-arts/crafts
-most popular activities involved climbing, pulling, pushing buttons, throwing
-different areas designated by different age groups, but these separations mostly ignored by the kids
-most adults are there in an observatory, rather than participatory capacity
Interiors:
-use of bold colors on first floor – red, green, blue, yellow
-signage uses large, bubble-like letters, lower to the ground
-but many signs have lots of text
-many house-like structures to go into and explore
-different areas of the floor covered in different materials – wood, linolium, industrial-type carpet
-2nd floor lobby has a sky/cloud theme, painted pastel blue, exposed ceiling
-each area like a separate room with different age-group focus, subject theme
-many balcony-like spaces for watching children, different vantage points
Activities:
-building with nits and bolts, blocks (adults often assisting in these activities)
-oversized games of chess, checkers, tic-tac-toe, dominoes
-computer invention game
-arts/crafts
-most popular activities involved climbing, pulling, pushing buttons, throwing
-different areas designated by different age groups, but these separations mostly ignored by the kids
-most adults are there in an observatory, rather than participatory capacity
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