How We Do It

"I know that's a harpoon," says Owen, staring at the computer screen, "but I don't know why it's twisted."  He is feeling frustrated, but is engaged by the story and wants to find out what happened.  "Maybe I can find the answer at the museum," he says.

image of a youngster using our softwareA few clicks of the mouse and he is exploring museum artifacts and books.  There is a wealth of information here, but it doesn't explain how the harpoon got twisted.  He goes to the docent for help and she directs him to an old fisherman down by the docks.  By putting together clues from a variety of sources he finally solves the riddle.  "What a cool game," he exclaims.

Owen’s reaction is typical of people using our products. Foss Mountain Design emphasizes the use of stories and interaction to engage people in active learning.  Stories have been used by all cultures as an educational tool since before the dawn of civilization.  They can foster an emotional connection between the learner and a topic and greatly facilitate remembering factual information.  Interactivity has a much shorter history, but it is well documented that people tend to remember much more of what they do than what they merely see or hear.  Active hands-on investigation of a concept leads to greater understanding than passive observation.

Foss Mountain Design combines the power of these tools to create hands-on exhibits, activities, and computer-based experiences that