Tag Archives: crime scene neanderthal

How long does it take a Neanderthal detective to crack the case?

Imagine you are staring at a spreadsheet with 99 rows of data. You have been interacting with weekend visitors at the American Museum of Natural History for several months facilitating a new interactive experience. This is the first time you … Continue reading

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The Draw and Appeal of Virtual Gel Electrophoresis

As someone who has spent much time walking past gel boxes of various shapes and sizes, a gel electrophoresis kit is not the first item that would draw my attention in a room with touchable casts of hominid skulls. But … Continue reading

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Crime Scene Neanderthal – Public Launch and Coverage in Rotunda

Under the headline, “Solve a Science-Based Mystery Designed by Teens,” the AMNH’s seasonal Rotunda magazine featured a full page article describing Crime Scene Neanderthal in the week before it’s public (beta!) launch this Sunday. (It also includes an official teaser … Continue reading

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Preparing the Virtual Neanderthal Flute for Crime Scene Neanderthal

Crime Scene Neanderthal (CSN), launching in beta to the public within our Hall of Human Origins this April, will feature (amongst other things) a virtual Neanderthal flute that visitors can play. Maybe you’ve seen this type of thing before on … Continue reading

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What Disney World Can Teach Us About Museum-based Learning, Part 1

Last year when I returned from on a one-week family trip to Disney World, I brought back more than just a bag full of Mickey-shaped chocolates. I was inspired by the myriad ways the Park designers had created games, activity … Continue reading

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The Sound of Project-Based Informal Science Learning

I was just at our 22nd session within our Neanderthal Next Door program – in which the high school seniors are developing an augmented activity guide about Neanderthals for use in our Halls – and I began to listen to … Continue reading

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“People need a change in lighting because they walk to the right” – Using Design-based Learning with Museum Teens

A couple of weeks after shifting to more of a design focus in the Neanderthal Next Door program, we tried an ideation activity with the youth called a “Point-of-View Madlib.” (Remember Mad Libs?) Taken from Stanford d.school’s “Bootcamp Bootleg” deck … Continue reading

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New program launch: The Neanderthal Next Door

Last week we launched at the Museum an exciting new youth program, called The Neanderthal Next Door. The title refers to the fact that evolution is not linear, we lived at the same time as the Neanderthal and, at least … Continue reading

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