Apologies if you have received this more than once. There are still
places on the Visitor Studies Summer School for one or both days!
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VISITOR STUDIES GROUP: SUMMER SCHOOL 2006
Virtual Visitors and Real Readers – Programme Update September 2006
The Visitor Studies Group is delighted to confirm the programme for the
2006 Visitor Research Group Summer School on 21st and 22nd September
2006 which will examine and explore different approaches to research and
evaluation of interactive learning experiences.
Evaluation research in contemporary free-learning environments – Virtual
versus Reality.
How can we evaluate the power of experiential learning against a
backdrop of an obsession with the virtual, push-button, touch-screen
world? Methods of evaluation have been developed separating these two
domains, and considering these as mutually exclusive environments, but
are they? Are the methods used to research and evaluate the virtual
world transferable to the experiential domain? Can an interactive
exhibit be evaluated using methods designed for experiential learning
environments?
Hosted by the award winning At-Bristol Science Centre, Harbourside,
Bristol, BS1 5DB
The two-day event will consist of:
* Day One (21-9-06 10:00 - 17:00)
o The Engaged Tone. Andrew McIntyre (Morris Hargreaves McIntyre)
sets the scene reminding us that engagement with interactive doesn’t
necessarily mean that people are learning.
o Great Expectations. Helen Featherstone discusses the necessity
to set realistic goals for interactive exhibits.
o Making usable websites. Martin Bazley (ICT4Learning) describes
techniques for refining the structure and overall usability of websites.
o Art and the Interactive. Debbie Syrop; how talk based research
has been used by artists to inform hands-on exhibit design.
o Pow WOW! Anne Linneen; how the Bristol Commonwealth Museum
uses interactive research techniques to evaluate exhibits
o Generation Genome. Ben Gammon and Emma Cooke (At:Bristol)
present a case study illustrating decisions made to overcome challenges
of creating an exhibit on something too small to see that will engage a
diverse target audience (the tech-literate teens as well as text panel
craving older visitors)
* Provocative (and hopefully entertaining) evening debate (18:45 –
19:45) where the summer school will adjourn to the Watershed Bar, to
debate research, methodological and ethical issues raised during the
day. The debate will begin from the following points:
* High-tech versus low-tech,
* Real learning from real experiences versus learning from
virtual experiences
* Day Two (22-9-06 09:30 – 16:00)
o From one frontier to another - Exploratorium to At-Bristol.
Goéry Delacôte (At:Bristol CEO) shares his experience of using research
in these two leading interactive science centres
o Exploration as a journey not a destination. Ian Russell
(Interactive Science Ltd) advocates the importance of encouraging
exploratory behaviour in visitors
o Common Pitfalls of interactive design. Harry White
(Techniquest) shares lessons learnt by interactive exhibit developers
over many years of research and experience.
o Entwined Engagement. Vivien Bell (National Museums Liverpool)
reveal how Liverpool Museums have developed evaluation research
techniques to become an integral part of their overarching visitor
research programme
o Affecting Immersive Experiences. The Eden Project with the
University of Exeter describe how they use simple but robust research
techniques to monitor and evaluate low-tech multi sensory immersive
learning experiences.
To book please contact Mary Phelps on 020 8392 2357 or
<mailto:[log in to unmask]> [log in to unmask]
The event will cost £120 for non-members, £90 for members of the Visitor
Studies Group and £65 for Student members. (One day fee
£60/£45/£32.50). This fee includes all speaker events, debate and
workshops, and refreshments and lunch on both days. Evening meals and
accommodation are not included; accommodation close to the venues can be
booked through the Bristol Tourist Information Centre. Please also see
VSG website <http://www.visitors.org.uk/> www.visitors.org.uk
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For mcg information and to manage your subscription to the list, visit the website at http://www.museumscomputergroup.org.uk
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