Peer into the political and educational climate of the 60’s to discover factors that propelled the hands-on education movement to prominence. Follow the missteps and breakthroughs of Marilynne Eichinger and 11 other naive but dedicated museum directors, board volunteers and National Sincere Foundation managers as they strove to change the way science was taught. Their oft humorous stories are revealed with candor and clarity. Responding to the latest research in learning and child development they created engaging, self-teaching displays that impacted the landscape of 2900 centers worldwide while serving 98 million people in the U.S.
Marilynne Eichinger brings a unique perspective to her writings as founder and past president of Impression 5 Science Museum in Lansing, Michigan, president of The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) and entrepreneur business woman. Started in 1972, Impression 5 was one of the first science centers in the nation to fully embrace hands-on learning as the primary means of reaching a diverse audience. While at OMSI she continued to develop entertaining displays that travelled internationally, moved the facility to its present riverfront location, acquired a submarine, and built a large format theater.
Upon leaving OMSI, with the assistance of 22 national museums, Marilynne started Informal Education Products, publisher of the Museum Tour Catalog, selling educational material and toys to over 2 million households. She ran the business for 18 years before selling it.
The story is a behind the scenes glimpse into the mistakes, bloopers and difficulties and joy in getting a museum off the ground. In addition to educational philosophy such topics are covered as:
a. How the Brooklyn Museum of Art was saved from closure by Mayor Rudolph Giuliani for showing a painting of the Virgin Mary that contained elephant dong.
b. Why an autistic child spoke for the first time on a science cen
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