This document presents the final evaluation report for the NSF-funded AISL project: "Multimodal Visitor Analytics: Investigating Naturalistic Engagement with Interactive Tabletop Science Exhibits."
Overview
In 2022, we worked with The Wild Center to evaluate its new IMLS-funded climate change exhibition, which used an innovative approach focused on presenting climate solutions through place-based examples and storytelling. Our evaluation came at a time when many museums were wrestling with how to effectively empower visitors to take climate action.
In the early stages of exhibition development, we also conducted audience research using Yale’s Six Americas Short Survey (SASSY) to help The Wild Center understand their audience’s dispositions toward climate change, which they used to
This summative evaluation was commissioned by the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) to explore visitors’ perceptions of the exhibition, “Climate Change: ” – which was installed from October 2008 through August 2009. This report provides systematic information about visitors’ perceptions of the intended messages and about the different types of exhibitry used to create the educational and experiential value of the exhibition. The information can be used to reflect on the exhibit development and design process, to consider whether to rent the traveling exhibition, and to inform future
The following comprise the CONCLUSIONS of SRA's evaluation: POLAR-PALOOZA toured the United States at a time when the topic of climate change and global warming appeared relatively low on a list of Americans' concerns (Pew Research Center for the People and the Press, 2006), with the economy, war, and health care taking precedence. Nevertheless, POLAR-PALOOZA was a powerful format for engaging the public and teachers with science, while also being a rewarding and worthwhile experience for the traveling scientists. PPZA was an ambitious and complex undertaking designed to bring what is
The California Academy of Sciences contracted Randi Korn & Associates, Inc. (RK&A) to evaluate the exhibition Altered State: Climate Change in California. In August 2009, RK&A conducted 111 timing and tracking observations of visitors 9 years and older, and 44 group interviews with adult visitors. While observations enabled examination of time spent at individual exhibits, time spent in the exhibition as a whole, and behaviors, the interviews shed light on visitors' response to the exhibition layout, understanding of specific exhibits, learning about climate change, and affective response to
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Randi Korn & Associates, Inc.California Academy of Sciences