In this paper, Zahava D. Doering and Andrew J. Pekarik of the Smithsonian's Institutional Studies Office share an overview of efforts to assess the Smithsonian's 16 museums and 26 million visitors each year. The authors also share some general findings that address communication in exhibitions.
In this article, Lynn D. Dierking of Science Learning, inc. (SLi) discusses the summative evaluation of the Pacific Science Center's Science Carnival Consortium Project, a National Science Foundation funded program designed to assist new or developing science centers with opening and operating their institutions. The evaluation was designed to determine the extent to which the Science Carnival Consortium fulfilled its primary mission of facilitating the creation of these new science centers, as well as to assess the relative efficacy of the project as a model for future collaborative endeavors
In this article, Stephen Bitgood of Jacksonville State University discusses the importance of critical thinking skills and offers ten suggestions for incorporating critical thinking into exhibit design.
In this article, Amy L. Cota and Ross J. Loomis of Colorado State University discuss effective exhibit labeling. They cite three studies that systematically examined different formatting techniques likely to be important in the recall of semantic knowledge.
In this article, Kristine Westerberg discusses the Shedd Aquarium's new initiative for audience research and development and shares some preliminary findings from their initial efforts.
In this article, Carol D. Saunders and H. Elizabeth Stuart Perry of the Brookfield Zoo provide findings from the summative evaluation of "The Swamp." This immersive wetlands exhibit was designed to encourage people to appreciate the benefits of ecosystems and features animals and plants of a cypress swamp and of an Illinois riverine wetland.
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TEAM MEMBERS:
Carol SaundersH. Elizabeth Stuart Perry
This article provides study findings from the summative evaluation of "The Universe in Your Hands: Early Tools of Astronomy" permanent exhibition that opened in May 1995 at the Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum. The renovated and recontextualized exhibit portrays the museum's collection of early astronomical instruments in the social and scientific setting of the European and Islamic worlds during the Middle Ages (1200 to 1500 A.D.).
In this article, Britt Raphling and Shauna Keane-Timberlake, of the Adler Planetarium, discuss the new building addition that was slated to open in the summer of 1998. The authors briefly summarize the three new galleries as well as discuss how front-end evaluation has informed the exhibit development process.
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TEAM MEMBERS:
Britt RaphlingShauna Keane-Timberlake
In this article, Britt Raphling discusses how the visitor data from extensive formative evaluations guided decision-making on design revisions for the wayfinding system at the Adler Planetarium.
This article provides a brief summary of the findings from an evaluation study that examined what Field Museum visitors understand about the scientific research that goes on behind the scenes. Between May and September 1995, Selinda Research Associates conducted over 125 in-depth interviews with visitors, members, and museum staff, for a total of approximately fifty contact hours with respondents.
The article describes the Informal Learning Program (ILP), co-directed by Michael Spock and Deborah Perry, and initially funded by the Joyce Foundation of Chicago. The purpose of the program is to serve as an advocate for and to conduct research on informal learning and on the design and development of public spaces, programs, and exhibits.