Boonshoft Museum of Discovery AT&T competitive grant project

The Boonshoft Museum of Discovery has been awarded $25,000 from the AT&T Foundation through an education-focused wireless technology competitive grant program. “We are grateful for our partnership with the AT&T Foundation and look forward to utilizing the technologies available through this grant in ways that will enhance the experiences of our visitors at the Museum and help us better serve the community as a whole,” said Mark J. Meister, president and CEO of the Dayton Society of Natural History–the parent-organization of the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery. Implementation of the project, entitled “Enriching Education with Wireless Technology” will be completed by the end of 2008; visitors will have access beginning mid–late summer 2008.

Project Summary: Through hand-held interactive multi-media PDAs, as well as five new interactive computer kiosks and facility-wide access to the internet through personal laptops and equipment, this project will use wireless technology to enrich the educational experience for Museum visitors. The technology and its features will alert teachers to material aligning with Ohio Academic content standards available in the Museum’s permanent exhibitions, as well as featured traveling exhibits. It will supply all visitors with a vast inventory of exhibition information that is otherwise unavailable; allow the Museum’s Education Department to introduce questions to stimulate inquiry-based learning, and provide additional learning resources for all users, including special services for the hearing impaired through video sign language and the blind through audio components.

Technical Scope: The Museum will add Wi-Fi so that all areas of the Museum have access to its text, visual and audio capabilities. Providing access to the Wi-Fi system will be NaviPocket units from Orpheo Network USA, handheld interactive multi-media PDAs. Computer kiosks will allow any visitor the opportunity to access the Wi-Fi system; visitors with laptops can connect as well.

Five new wireless access points will be added to the Museum:

• Two on the first floor. This area contains natural science and biology displays and a large exhibition area for children through age six.
• One in the second floor Exhibit Hall, the site of three featured traveling exhibitions each year.
• Two on the second floor outside the Exhibit Hall. Included will be the EcoTrek area, which encourages learning about the environment; the Pacific Northwest Tidal Pool area; and the Distance Learning classroom.

A computer kiosk will also be installed in each of these five areas so that those without their own laptops or those who are not using one of the handhelds can still have access to information. Visiting classes, home school groups, and families can watch together video presentations and demonstrations.

How will the Visitor Benefit? Use of the handhelds and access to the programmed information will be free to Museum members and included with regular admission fees. Content will be visual and auditory. Menus will be flexible, allowing visitors to choose the information according to the exhibit they are interacting with, or according to what they want to specifically know about Museum programs. They will also be able to choose appropriate age ranges and
grade levels for all the information. A significant benefit of the handhelds and the kiosks will be that adults will be encouraged to interact with the youth. For example, parents not well-versed in chemistry will be armed with the knowledge to provide a meaningful experience for their children. Instant access to appropriate information will give parent the knowledge they need to communicate with their children. Because there are limitations to what can be conveyed via traditional signage, tactile manipulation and the occasional audio augmentation, adding multiple
technology resources will ensure the all visitors get what they come for – and more.

Project Timeline: The Wi-Fi will be installed and content developed over the summer. Initial testing and rollout will begin in the fall, and final results and summaries will be incorporated by the end of 2008. Visitors will have access to the technology beginning in the mid–late summer of 2008. Both internal and external experts will be assigned to the project.