What are the pros and cons of an educator leading a project team to develop an interactive exhibit? Aurélie Henry Education Technology Projects Coordinator National Postal Museum
New Media, Technology, and Museums: Who’s in Charge? - Aurelie Henry
Nov 18, 2014
Many museums struggle with where to put Web and New Media on the organizational chart and the decision can have far-reaching consequences for visitors and staff alike. Are they part of Information Technology? Education? The Director’s suite? Or all of the above? This session uses case studies and insight from small, medium, and large museums to help attendees identify the best organizational home for Web and New Media activities in their museums.
Aurelie Henry is the Education Technology Projects Coordinator for the National Postal Museum’s Education Department. Her background in history and cultural tourism is completed by an extensive training in website and interactive development within the realm of museums and practical interpretive and exhibit development experience. She is the project manager in charge of the enhancement of interactive kiosks located on the museum floor. She also brings her education background and expert knowledge of museum visitors’ use and needs for New Media and Technology to exhibits’ website creation and website’s redesign.
Aurelie Henry is the Education Technology Projects Coordinator for the National Postal Museum’s Education Department. Her background in history and cultural tourism is completed by an extensive training in website and interactive development within the realm of museums and practical interpretive and exhibit development experience. She is the project manager in charge of the enhancement of interactive kiosks located on the museum floor. She also brings her education background and expert knowledge of museum visitors’ use and needs for New Media and Technology to exhibits’ website creation and website’s redesign.
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What are the pros and cons of an educator leading a project team
to develop an interactive exhibit?
Aurélie HenryEducation Technology Projects CoordinatorNational Postal Museum
The National Postal Museum?
Smithsonian InstitutionWashington, DC
Presents the history of the nation’s mail service and the largest collection of
stamps in the world
About 40 full-time staff
Visitation in 2008:On-site: 300,000
Online: 2, 500, 000(2 websites)
NPM Organizational Chart
Curatorial & research
AragoArago.si.edu
Education
Main websitepostalmuseum.si.edu
Collection & Preservation Exhibits External
Affairs
Director’s suite
Curatorial & Research Education Collection &
PreservationExhibits External Affairs
Director’s suite
Main website
postalmuseum.si.edu
AragoArago.si.edu
Internet AffairsMarch 2009
Cross departmental collaboration
• Museum-wide project teams for major projects– Exhibit creation– Technology based projects
• Museum wide committees– Exhibit committee– Web strategy meetings
Postal Museum organizational strengths and challenges
• IT handled outside of museum– Challenge: Projects don’t get direct input and
support• Museum-wide project teams:– Strength: Collaboration– Challenge: How can our processes mature?
• Top down structure:– Strength: Strong project support from the director– Challenge: Need a long term strategy
Educator and project manager
• Educator• User-centric approach• Generation Y• Technology enthusiast
but no technical skills
• Assist with public interpretation• School tours • Highlight tours
• Public Program development
• Education’s representative on exhibit teams
• Website product development / Web material review
My role as an educator
My experience as an educator and project manager
The Ford Education Center’s goals
• Five interactive touch screens
• Fun and engaging
• Merging museum’s themes
• Link on-site & on-line experiences
Project management by an educator
• Target audience: families
• Based on observed visitor needs
• Focus on usability and ergonomic design
• Spiral project planning
Project management by an educator
• Spiral project planning
Evaluate
Test Build
Design
All Aboard to Sort the Mail!
All Aboard to Sort the Mail!
What are the pros and cons of an educator leading a project team
to develop an interactive exhibit?
• Pros: – Focus on users and their learning– Emphasize evaluation
• Cons: – No in-depth understanding of IT
• Recommendations:– Gather a reliable team of experts– Make the project management the priority
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