As museums and educators struggle with the challenges of presenting their material in a digital format, many overlook the application that has spearheaded the development of virtual reality for the average consumer: 3D realtime game engines. These 3D game engines offer greater versatility, usability, maturity, simulation, and codebase than most…

Since the World Wide Web became in 1994 the first new mass medium since television, online learning design has evolved at Internet speed, taking in less than a decade what it took exhibit design over a century to develop in sophistication. Although virtual exhibits consisting of pictures and text are still common, educational Web designers…

Continuous, formative evaluation, from inception to completion, with rapid revisions, was key to the successful development of Kids Design Network(KDN) by the DuPage Children's Museum (DCM). Although a thorough evaluation plan was developed at the beginning of the project, it soon became apparent that additional strategies were necessary to insure…

A museum can talk to its audience through a variety of channels, such as Web sites, help desks, human guides, brochures. A considerable effort is being made by museums to integrate these different means. The Web site can be designed to be reachable or even updateable from visitors inside the museum via touchscreen and wireless devices. But these…

Thirty leaders of museums and libraries met at the Chicago Historical Society (October 5-7, 1999) to discuss common questions and concerns about digitization of collections and explore the ways that the World Wide Web is affecting their collection-based institutions. This report presents the papers, under the headings of…

This paper demonstrates how cataloging for a collection of over 40,000 files on individual artists, developed by the Museum of Modern Art Library (New York), is made available to researchers around the world by incorporating MARC records for each file in an online catalog that can be searched over the Internet. Examples are provided of the…

In industrial circles today the sciences and other subjects of a distinct practical nature are looked upon as more important than dead languages and classics; and as a result, technical trade, manual training, and commercial schools and colleges have increased in number, and added emphasis has been made in all schools on commerce and industries.…

Discusses the advantages of visiting a science museum to supplement the school science program. Lists 20 major science/technology centers, and in particular, describes the main attractions at the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry. (JR)

In an effort to determine whether the library schools are adequately preparing students for employment, particularly in art and museum libraries, several employing librarians were contacted for their experiences. Their criticisms and suggestions for improvement are presented. It was generally felt that the curricula need to be revised. (Author)

Museums are excellent supplements to classroom learning because they enable children to see and experience concepts that are taught in school. This article tells parents how to work with museums, and other cultural institutions in their communities, to shape and carry out programs for children. (PP)

Discusses the establishment of the library of the J. Paul Getty Center for the History of Art and the Humanities, noting the architectural design of the Getty Museum, the Getty Trust, library automation, and collection development. (EJS)

Though reproductions are a necessary teaching tool, they are not substitutes for the original work of art. Through museum visits, students can be provided with the knowledge needed to experience art. By describing, analyzing, and evaluating the works of art, students become aware of the differences between originals and reproductions. (CS)