Trials and Trails: evaluating learning trails at the V

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• Trials and Trails evaluating learning trails at
  the VA
• Catherine Speight
• CETLD Research Fellow

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iGuides from StreetAccess
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What are iGuides?

• Web-based learning materials in a trail format
• Accessed on VA-issued PDAs (handheld computers)
  in the galleries
• In future could be accessed through visitors own
  PDA, laptop or web-enabled phone
• Allow user input (text, audio, photo)
• Trails can be accessed after visit and
  information transferred to other formats e.g.
  PowerPoint

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Background

• There is a lack of targeted provision for HE
  students in museums
• Limited research into the needs of specialist
  audience groups
• Students need help accessing information in the
  Museum
• They need help structuring their visit

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Museum Evaluation

• Evaluation can help to measure the visitors
  learning experience in museums
• It takes a cyclical approach, often known as the
  front-end, formative and summative stages
• Socio-constructivist learning framework

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Evaluating Technology in the Museum

• It can help the designer and user make confident
  judgements about the effectiveness of the
  technology
• The focus of the evaluation must be on the
  content or message rather than the tool or the
  medium (Economou 1998)

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Designing the iGuides Evaluation Strategy

• Our Audience
• - HE Design Students
• - Specialist Subjects
• Structuring the Project
• - Meeting Project Milestones
• - Devising Research Objectives
• - Front End, Formative and Summative

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Research Methods

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Analysing Data

• Evaluating mobile learning generates messy data
• Methods used
• - Concept Identification
• - Re-reading of data

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Preliminary Observations

• Students spend much longer looking at objects
  when using the trail
• Students appreciate extra information about the
  objects on display
• Students prefer conducting a trail outside their
  own subject area
• Students enjoy the capacity that the technology
  has to offer. They like to make notes, record
  audio and take photographs.
• It is difficult to gauge the content of
  information at the right level for undergraduate
  and postgraduate students

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Lessons Learnt

• Suggestions for working with students
• Being aware of the academic calendar
• Realistic Goals
• Measuring learning in the museum
• Difficulties with the technology

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• iGuides Project Website
• http//cetld.brighton.ac.uk/projects/
• current-projects/iGuides