Treaties: Great Nations In Their Own Words Web Project

Treaties: Great Nations

In Their Own Words Web Project

Megan ByrnesInternet Strategies

December 10, 2011

NMAI’s Mission:The National Museum of the American Indian is committed to advancing knowledge and understanding of the Native cultures of the Western Hemisphere, past, present and future, through partnership with Native people and others.

Treaties: Great Nations In Their Own Words

ExhibitionOpening in late 2012 – early 2013

Dual focus of websiteExhibition (virtual and physical)

Educational Resource

Coincides with launch of National Education Initiative

Project Goals and Challenges: Educational Resources and

ProgrammingGoals of Treaties Site

Increase understanding of American Indian history, tribal sovereignty, and rights

Build our 9-12 audience and market ourselves as a place for civics/ US gov’t material

Institutional Challenges

Meeting demand for accurate, culturally appropriate and contemporary classroom materials about Native people

Fulfilling need of schools featuring civics funding cutbacks yet increased demand to meet these standards

Project Goals and Challenges: Onsite Visitation and Online Presence

Goals of Treaties Site

To market the Treaties exhibition, entice more visitors onsite, and improve the quality of all visitors’ experiences (pre-, during, and post-visit)

To promote an accessible, engaging, and interactive online presence and public forum to dialogue about these issues

Institutional Challenges

Declining numbers in onsite museum visitation

Lack of online interactive opportunities for user-generated content

Image of museum as “the authority;” lack of accessibility

AudiencePrimary:

• Teachers and Students (4-12)Social Studies / US History; Civics / Gov’t

Secondary:

• Pre- and Post- Treaties exhibition visitors

• Tribal community members

• University teachers and students

• General learners (US and abroad)

Measuring SuccessWhat is success? To increase:

1. Educators’ use of NMAI’s classroom materials and programs

2. Traffic to the website and the museum

3. General understanding of AI history and modern-day issues

Qualitative

• Ongoing evaluation (surveys, interviews, longitudinal studies, embedded assessments)

• Analysis of comments from “Join the Discussion” social media features, as well as social tagging, etc.

Quantitative

• Site analytics (traffic, bounce rates, downloads, time spent)

• Increased exhibit and school group visitation

Why Treaties? Why Now?

Exhibition

NEI

Marketing a New NMAI

Funding through SI collaboration

Addresses main themes of mission

Thank you!

Questions or Comments?