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Evaluation Reports

Eclipse 2017 Livestream – An evaluation report for NASA

December 1, 2017 | Media and Technology, Public Programs
The Exploratorium’s livestream of the August 2017 Total Solar Eclipse reached over 63 million people. Live programs in English and Spanish provided an informal learning experience outside the museum. Over 2.75 million people viewed on-demand videos on eclipse science. Sixty major media providers rebroadcast the livestream telescope feed. Edu, Inc. conducted a summative evaluation of the NASA-funded project. The study reveals that the Exploratorium successfully disseminated eclipse science and STEM content through media channels and a mobile app, delivering a museum experience to online, mobile, and social media users. The outcome was promoting public engagement in science by going to people where they are, when they want – live or on demand. Major media providers who used the livestream telescope feed include NASA TV, ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, MSNBC, BBC, and PBS. Analysis of 16.5 million tweets discussing the eclipse showed that social media played a catalytic role in promoting interest and engagement with the eclipse and eclipse science. The project produced the first NASA-sponsored live eclipse program in Spanish. The report examines number of users served by the livestream, detailed social media analytics, and promotion of the livestream through conventional and social media. User experience testing, review by an expert panel, and interviews with Exploratorium leadership explore impact. The report has 27 pages.

TEAM MEMBERS

  • DSpencerPhd
    Evaluator
    Edu, Inc.
  • Jediah Graham
    Evaluator
    Edu, Inc.
  • Doug Pickering
    Evaluator
    Edu, Inc.
  • Citation

    Funders

    NASA
    Funding Program: NASA Science Mission Directorate
    Award Number: NNX16AB96A
    Funding Amount: $1,683,343.00
    Resource Type: Evaluation
    Discipline: General STEM | Space science
    Audience: General Public | Educators/Teachers | Museum/ISE Professionals | Evaluators | Learning Researchers
    Environment Type: Media and Technology | Broadcast Media | Websites, Mobile Apps, and Online Media | Games, Simulations, and Interactives | Public Programs | Museum and Science Center Programs
    Access and Inclusion: Hispanic/Latinx Communities

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