Influence of Immersion on Visitor Learning: Maya Skies Research Report

In 2007, Chabot Space & Science Center, with partners LodeStar Astronomy Center and the Institute for Learning Innovation, received a National Science Foundation grant (#0610253) to develop, create, distribute, and conduct research on a full-dome planetarium show titled Tales of the Maya Skies. This physically immersive show was designed to transport viewers to ancient Maya civilizations and to push the boundaries of narrative approach in planetariums by presenting the film with a “cultural wrapper” of the Maya people and their achievements in archaeo-astronomy. The research conducted three studies to addressed three guiding research questions. The first examined the impact of physical immersion on learning by comparing the film in three conditions of immersion (full-dome, movie screen, and television). The second looked at the influence of the “cultural wrapper” on learning by comparing based on measures of connectedness to the Maya. The third revealed which elements of the immersive show create a strong response in viewers by examining real-time physiologic (heart rate, RSA, and skin conductance) and opinion responses of viewers while watching the show. Appendix includes survey questionnaires.