In this paper, researchers from the University of North Carolina at Asheville, Denver Museum of Natural History (DMNH), and Colorado State University, present findings from two studies that established a link between certain design features commonly found in museum environments and the state of psychological flow. Study one observed visitor behavior in a museum hall at DMNH before and after renovation. The study found that after the design changes, visitors attended more to the exhibits. Study two, a post-hoc survey analysis, investigated which design features in particular are responsible for
In this paper, researchers from the Smithsonian's Institutional Studies Office discuss a study of the "Ocean Planet" exhibition presented at the National Museum of Natural History (April 1995-April 1996). The purpose of this study was to measure the degree to which the exhibition's message was communicated to visitors and the extent to which the exhibition goals were realized.
"Constructivist Reflections: World of Water Project Planning" is a planning activity to be carried out by Discovery 2000, Inc. They are developing a 14,000 sq. ft. area of aquatic exhibits and support spaces that will increase visitors understanding of the science concepts related to water, aquatic habitats, and organisms. The exhibit area will be developed in two phases. Phase I will be completed in the spring of 1998. It will consist of 15 or so fresh-and saltwater habitat tanks, a learning laboratory, a small program theater, a salt marsh touch pool and eight interactive exhibits. Phase II, for which this planning support will be used, will consist of an additional 25 interactive exhibits and associated programs. The Phase I area will serve as an experimental laboratory for the creation of the Phase II learning activities. With this planning grant, they will hold three staff development workshops, a planning seminar focusing on the learning theory of constructivism and how it can inform and drive exhibit and program development, produce a report of the seminar proceedings, and identify and recruit a national advisory team to assist with the development of Phase II. As a result of the planning activity their staff will be informed about constructivist theory and its application to museum exhibits and activities, they will increase their knowledge of front-end evaluation strategies, they will develop new community and professional partnerships, and they will have a plan to use as they move forward with the implementation of Phase II exhibits.
The Ft. Worth Museum of Science and History will plan activities related to their proposed exhibit "Texas Pre-History: How Do We Know?" This will be a 10,000 sq. ft. permanent exhibit along with a traveling exhibit and education program menu and will feature a constructivist approach to inquiry-based learning focusing on archaeological and paleontological fieldwork being carried out in Texas today. Research sites prominently featured in the exhibit will be several early Cretaceous dinosaur sites excavated by paleontologists Louis Jacobs, and Dale Winkler, Southern Methodist University, and archaeological sites from early Clovis and Dalton Periods being excavated under the direction of archeologist Reid Ferring, University of North Texas. The exhibits and complementary activities will explore the questions a) what is being learned about the prehistory of Texas b) how do scientists interpret their findings and c) what don't we know? With this planning grant, they will conduct extensive front end studies to identify key questions that visitors will have when they come to the exhibit. Meetings with advisors to develop a conceptual plan for the exhibit and educational materials. During these sessions such questions as the following will be explored. A) "How can the Museum pre-design multiple mysteries and outcomes to satisfy the interest of diverse visitors...", b) can the museum combine paleontology and archaeology without perpetuating the naive notion that dinosaurs and people lived at the same time, c) what materials and policies will be developed to handle the creationism vs evolution that might arise, and d) how will the challenges of circulating the traveling exhibit be addressed? Museum staff will travel to other museums to examine model exhibits, and project staff will work with teachers to develop project-related formal education programs.
The Science Museum of Minnesota will develop "After the Dinosaurs", an exhibit that will feature a detailed reconstruction of the ecology of a Paleocene subtropical environment that existed in the North Plains of North America (58 million years ago). Information presented in the exhibit will come from a 25 year research project carried out by SMM curator Bruce R. Erickson and his colleagues at Wannagan Creek Quarry in northwestern North Dakota. This research has yielded one of the most complete assemblages of Paleocene megafossils in North America. Both the increased knowledge gained from this research and process of the research will be highlighted in this exhibit. Visitors will learn that the world's landscape has changed considerably over time, the analysis of fossils helps scientists reconstruct the past, knowledge of former ecosystems help us to understand current ecosystems, and everyone can be a scientific investigator when we attempt to understand our environment in a systematic way. Two versions of the exhibit will be prepared: a 4000 sq. ft. permanent version that will be installed in the new SMM river front building and will open in late 2000. There will also be a 2500 sq. ft. traveling version that will begin its national tour in 2002. Complementary programming will include an on-line interactive teacher guide and student project curriculum, a teachers' institute, and a variety of youth programming including specially developed interpreter training materials. The exhibit will be accessible to people with disabilities.
The Utah Museum of Natural History at the University of Utah will use this planning grant to plan an exhibit called "Canyon Through Time; Reverse Archaeology in the Grand Gulch Region." They will use the knowledge and viewpoint of the several living cultures concerned in telling this story looking at the past, the present, and the future. Breaking from the tradition of presenting only the archaeologist's "voice" in an exhibit, they will have different "voices." Their goal is to give both the local Native Americans and scientists the opportunity to tell the story as they see it. The planning grant will give them the opportunity to bring together individuals representing this diversity of viewpoint to establish the script of the exhibit. The project has the potential for serving as a model for others developing exhibits and projects on archaeological and anthropological themes where it is valuable to bring together this diversity of perspectives.
The Calvert Marine Museum will develop an exhibit and complementary programming interpreting the Miocene Age marine life. Treasure from the Cliffs: Exploring Marine Fossils will use the world famous fossils of Calvert Cliffs as the basis for the exhibit. It is their intention to convey a strong sense of the personal process of discovery and the creative component of scientific inquiry to the exhibit visitors. In their words, "The overriding purpose of Treasure from the Cliffs is to model a new paradigm for natural history exhibits: to take a humanistic and holistic approach that recognizes the centrality of imagination to the scientific enterprise, and that engages curiosity and creativity -- as well as intellect -- in the process of science learning." Upon entering the exhibit, a visitor's interest will be peeked by seeing the large, dramatically lit, fossil Great White Shark Tooth. Visitors will get involved in the wonder and process of science at the beginning of the exhibit in the Paleontology Office/Lab and Fossil Identification area. They will then move on to see a replicated section of the Calvert Cliffs and cases illustrating how fossil deposits form. Two recreated Miocene dioramas one of which will include a full-size skeletal reconstruction of the giant fossil Great White Shark come next. Visitors will then be able to investigate on their own in a reading station and a video and demonstration theater. Visitors will exit the exhibit after a section that shows how the modern Chesapeake Bay was formed. This leads them seamlessly into the museum's next exhibit hall Estuary Patuxent: A River and its Life. The museum will develop a series of complementary programs in association with this exhibit to reach a wider audience that will include formal educators among others. They will organize a speakers service, develop a fossil field guide, and produce a video about the Great White Shark.
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TEAM MEMBERS:
Michael GottfriedS. Curtis BowmanM. Lynne Warren
The Great Lakes Museum of Science, Environment, and Technology will develop a 10,000 sq. ft. exhibit focusing on The Great Lakes Environment. Addressing the core mission of the museum, the exhibit will promote understanding about "the interdependence of scientific, environmental, and technological activities in the Great Lakes Region." The exhibit will focus on the Great Lakes as an ecosystem. By means of interactive activities, visitors will learn how this ecosystem was formed, the web of life it supports, the stresses it receives, and the efforts to restore its health. The Great Lakes Museum is a new 165,000 sq. ft. facility located in downtown Cleveland on the Lake Erie Shore and is scheduled to open in 1996. The exhibit area will cover 50,000 sq. ft. and will be fully accessible. An entire floor will be dedicated to the Great Lakes Environment. Complementary educational programs will consist of the following: take home activity guides to encourage the discovery and exploration of ecosystems in backyards or neighborhoods, pre and post visit activities for school groups, and teacher enhancement activities. Museum staff are participating in the planning process for the Urban Systemic Initiative of Cleveland and activiites and content of exhibits will be developed to complement the curriculum. The museum will develop a menu of activities and databases for electronic networking with homes and schools. They will have video conferencing capabilities to connect the museum with classrooms.
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TEAM MEMBERS:
Richard CoyneTimothy LargePauline Fong
The Sound to Mountains exhibit showcases contemporary and emerging watershed issues which affect the Pacific Northwest region. This exhibit addresses the need to focus awareness on non-point pollution for the general public and among Washington State teachers and school children (K-12). This represents one of the major pollution problems affecting the greater Puget Sound region. A school curriculum and visitation program will be developed, along with a Watershed Wonders kit. The components of the Sound to Mountains exhibit include: a freshwater self-discovery laboratory; a lowland waters replication; a life-like conservation trail; an upland mountain stream habitat; and a carved and painted mural depicting the First People story of salmon.
The Rhode Island Zoological Society will develop, prototype, install, and evaluate "Habitrek", a 3000 sq. ft. exhibit to be placed in their new Education Center. The center is a circular building and as visitors go through it they will encounter habitat displays of a Urban Providence, Woodlands, Wetlands, and Desert. In addition there will be giant scale replicas of a wormhole, a bat cave, a prairie dog colony, and a stream. Their intent is to use live animals, animal replicas and interactives to shift the visitor's emphasis from simply finding and identifying species to learning about habitats where animals live and where animals and humans often have to interact. In addition to the exhibits, several complementary educational activity packages will be developed. These include a family activity pack of activities that can be completed both at the zoo and in the home. They will relate many natural history stories not obvious from the exhibit alone. To streamline the development process, materials developed by the Bronx Zoo's Habitat Ecology Learning Program (an NSF-supported teacher enhancement activity) will serve as the basis for these family packs. The HELP materials will also serve as the basis for activities developed for use by teachers to complement the already existing Kits in Teaching Elementary Science (KITES) program (another NSF-supported program). The zoo also has cooperative programs with the Rhode Island Girl Scout Council and materials will be modified for their use as well. Of special interest is the attention that is being given to going beyond minimum ADA standards to make the exhibit broadly accessible. Ambient sound will be an important part of all exhibit settings, design considerations will be made for those with limited vision, and sightlines will be consistent with wheelchair standards, are a few examples. The anticipated exhibit opening is early 1998.
The New England Aquarium (NEAq) will develop a traveling exhibit and associated programs to focus on parallel scientific and environmental issues facing Lake Victoria (East Africa) and North American fisheries. The NEAq is working in partnership with the national Museums of Kenya (NMK). This project results from NSF supported research on Lake Victoria biodiversity crises and a workshop that involved 70 scientists, policymakers, and resource managers. A 5,000 sq. ft. exhibit "Lake Victoria: Mukasa's Tear" will be developed that will present both the Lake Victoria and North American fisheries issues in six modules including: Biodiversity Then and Now; Changing Life Styles; Lake Victoria Timelines; Fisheries Technology; Global Markets; and Towards the Future. Complementary educational programs will include on-site interpretation, special programs for K-12 classes, teacher workshops and curriculum materials, special events. The exhibit will open at NEAq in 1998 and will begin its national tour in 1999. A second version of the exhibit (which will be funded separately), will be shown in Kenya.
The Arizona State Museum (ASM) will use this planning grant to further their planning for the educational content of their new prehistoric gallery. This project is titled "Prehistoric Gallery: Planning for Science Education Components". The subject of the planning activity is part of their master plan for facility renovation and interpretation. Two approx. 10,000 square foot exhibit halls are being developed; the first is the recently opened Paths of Life: American Indians of the Southwest. The second, and the subject of this planning project, is Journeys of the Ancestors: Ancient Peoples of the Southwest. The planning activities will consist of 1) travel by the ASM planning committee to seven museums to discuss exhibit philosophy, interpretive strategies, and exhibit techniques; 2) an interpretive design seminar that will bring together a multidisciplinary team of scientists, science educators, exhibit designers, and others to share ideas on the design, content, and educational activities for this new hall; 3) additional a front-end evaluation to test effectiveness of the themes, strategies, and learning activities with different segments of their potential audience; 4) a planning session with area teachers to examine the relationship between the exhibit and the curricular needs.