The Seventh of 14 Exhibits in 14 Weeks
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Physics Fairway is a truly innovative exhibit combining the vision of one of our advisory council members with the talents of third year Oklahoma State architecture students and the sponsorship of a family with a unique and special association with the basic element of the exhibit – a golf ball!
The Vision
The ideas for Oklahoma WONDERtorium exhibits come from many sources. We are committed to reinforcing Oklahoma-related themes in our exhibits (Kameoka Kids, Generation Station Store and Barn, and Ramona Paul's Block Party) and reinforcing school curriculum in science (Amazing Airways, Discovery Diner and My Medical Center). Research in the form of visiting other children's museums has also been a useful exhibit exploratory method. Advisory council members Dick and Malinda Fischer saw a golf ball exhibit at Children's Museum of the Low Country in Charleston, South Carolina, and brought this idea back to the WONDERtorium. The exhibit called "Raceways" (a.k.a. The Golf Ball Room) offers chutes, spirals and "roller coasters" where golf balls exhibit Newton's laws of motion. Malinda and Dick proposed a similar exhibit for the WONDERtorium and museum staff began to explore ways to make this happen.
| A Reciprocally Beneficial Partnership The museum's staff realized an opportunity to partner with our education-based neighbor, Oklahoma State University. Jeff Williams, Professor of Architecture, was contacted to see if a class might be interested in assisting the museum – he enthusiastically said "Yes!" and engaged his colleague, architecture professor, Seung Ra, to assist in the project. Together, along with Ruth Cavins, Executive Director, Debbie Williams, Programs Coordinator and the museum's Exhibits Committee, a plan was devised to have Professor Williams' 3rd year architecture class take on the design and development of a golf ball-related exhibit. Professor Williams served as Studio Coordinator and Professor Ra wrote the program for the project. Initially, this exhibit was named "Golf Ball Racers" with its scientific educational goal being related to physics and the properties of velocity, motion, gravity, and cause and effect. |
This partnership proved to be beneficial for both the museum and the architecture students. The museum is the beneficiary of a totally original exhibit and we were integrally involved in its design. The students benefited by working on a real-life project – in only their third year of study – with a young target audience they might not ordinarily encounter, budget parameters, and client and target audience feedback during the process.
The students began the project early in Spring 2011 and divided into five groups with five interactive components as part of the total exhibit. They presented preliminary mock-ups of their designs mid-way through the semester and received feedback from children... and adults. Then, as an unusual experience for 3rd year students, they fabricated each exhibit for actual use within the museum. Preparing a budget, deterimining materials that would withstand "kid use and abuse" and creating an attractive and appealing final product were challenges the students met as parts of this academic experience.
The final name of this exhibit is Physics Fairway. The best explanation of the
exhibit process can be found in a blog the students created to document their work.
Fitting Sponsorship
Museum staff and the capital campaign committee pursued several golf-related sponsors for Physics Fairway. We are thrilled to announce that the Chris and Amy Tidland Family are our sponsors. Chris Tidland is a 1995 graduate of Oklahoma State University and led the golf team to the 1995 NCAA Division I Men's Championship. He is currently on the PGA Tour and has four Top 10 finishes on the tour. Amy Tidland is a former member of the Oklahoma WONDERtorium Board of Directors and actively volunteers for the museum. Chris and Amy have two children, Jackson and Bella.
Please consider making a donation to "Planting Seeds of WONDER"
