Implementation Formative Evaluation of “Earth Over Time” Videodisc Exhibit

The Interactive Video Science Consortium is a non-profit group of fifteen science centers and museums that developed interactive video exhibits about Earth and Planetary sciences with two purposes in mind. One, the videodisc-based kiosk exhibits served as educational vehicles for four million visitors, representing the combined audiences of the fifteen participating museums. Two, through extensive testing and visitor research during the development process, the consortium members enlarged understanding of the appropriate and effective uses of the interactive video medium in science museums. Information was collected by Multimedia Research from museum visitors during the implementation of "Earth Over Time" in two consortium museums (Boston Museum of Science, Academy of Natural Science). The general goals of the research were to understand who uses the exhibit, how it is used, and what is gained from its use; to identify design changes necessary to improve appeal, accessibility, and comprehensibility of the exhibit; and to generalize lessons learned to decision-making for future videodics-based exhibits. General lessons relate to formats, learner control, and type of information.