"Dr. Norm" Lownds, Curator
with the MSU Comm Tech Lab
Dr. Carrie Heeter, Director
Susanna Tellschow, Art Director
Brian M. Winn, Senior Programmer

 

Technology is, and will be, a part of everything we do.

Technology provides an amazing communication infrastructure.

Technology allows relatively easy access to increasing levels of complexity.

Technology allows you to "Step into My Garden" from anywhere in the world at any time.

There are presently no good examples of how technology fits with a garden.

There are few good examples of using technology as a learning tool.

There are no good examples of how young kids (and their teachers) can use technology as a scientist does.

 

Technology can be integrated with the garden - it need not be an "add-on", separate experience

Technology can enhance the experience of exploring the garden by letting children discover things about the gardens they could not notice just by looking

Technology can be a vital part of a live group experience

Technology can enhance a learning experience

Technology can help make kids feel that what they are doing is important

Computers can have a child's personality - child's voice, child's way of speaking.

Technology can be a peer as well as an expert.

Technology can overcome barriers of time (plant growth throughout the summer, not just the day someone visits) and space (kids can connect to the garden from anywhere and control live cameras as they explore the garden)

Technology can provide opportunities for easy connections with scientists

 

Technology can let kids (and teachers) use computers as a scientist (etc.) would - information gathering; communication; data collection; data analysis; data presentation; decision making

Technology can help kids imagine themselves as scientists

Technology can help kids appreciate the importance of asking questions, even questions for which there are no answers

We will be dealing with these audiences

a) on-site visitors

part of an organized activity (some direction from a leader)

general visitors

b) virtual visitors

 

Physical needs

a.) electricity

b.) network connection

c.) waterproofing

d.) theft proofing

e.) backup plan if system crashes

f.) backup activities if software doesn't work

Lots of kids, few computers

Lack of teacher training

Cost (schools cannot afford not to do this)

 

Computers don't fit with the look and feel of the garden.

(Computers CAN fit with the look and feel of a garden.)

Computers detract from the garden experience.

(Computers can ENHANCE the garden experience.)

Computers are impersonal, mechanical, sterile machines.

(Computers are personal, organic, magical devices.)

Only experts can use a computer.

(Kids of all ages can use a computer.)

Connect kids and teachers to scientists

Show kids that their contributions are important (they are scientists)

Excite kids about plants and science

Enable kids to discover things they could not notice by simply looking

Enhance learning by overcoming barriers of time and space

Reinforce understanding and use of scientific process

Allow kids to 'publish' their own results/findings

Be commonplace in the future