學齡前兒童探索展示空間營運實務評量－－以國立自然科學博物館「幼兒科學園更新案」為例

Operational Evaluation of Discovery Rooms for Preschool Children --- A Case Study of Exhibition Renewal for 'Children's Discovery Rooms' in the National Museum of Natural Science

在日常生活中，有許多活動和自然現象有關，兒童對宇宙中的自然事物與規律會感覺驚訝進而加以觀察、探索，在過程中小朋友的身心得到發展、生活也更豐富。科學常被視為艱深的代名詞，其實科學可視為觀察、界定特性、發掘關係和找尋答案的過程。對幼童而言，它所包含的觀察和操作有助於發展出辨識相似、相異及相關的能力。所以幼兒園中老師的責任即是保持並鼓勵兒童天生的好奇心，並與小孩一起合作，經由觀察、研究、實驗來找出問題的答案，並激發兒童不斷探索的動力。其中包含創造時空環境、過程引導和方法的協助等工作，因此必須發掘或運用各種資源、規劃環境、引用有效的教學方法、培養小朋友養成科學精神與態度，建立面對問題的創造力與解決能力。

Science is often regarded as synonymous with 'unfathomable', but it is actually a process of observing, identifying special characteristics, clarifying relationships, and seek answers. Thus the aim of the Children's Discovery Rooms is to maintain and stimulate the interest of children to wonder and explore throughout their lives. The Children's Discovery Rooms in the National Museum of Natural Science was reopened to the public in mid-July 1998 following a renewal of the layout of the exhibit. The concept behind the design was to make the displays varied and interesting and make the both educational and entertaining. It involved how to lay out the software and hardware; how to use available space most efficiently, and how to make it all easier to manage.