Research
So I had a few goals in mind when beginning my research, I wanted to explore the existing discourse on interactivity in museums. I wanted to know what was effective when it came to engagement and learning, about the social aspect of museums and exploration of exhibits, how interactions can enhance an experience or distract from objects and artifacts displayed, if interactions were helpful in navigating the physical space of the exhibit, and how to create an emotional connection with he museum audience. I think knowing all of this is important to the end result of my thesis, which will be redesigning the gem and minerals exhibit at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science (DMNS). My research included scholarly research as well as observational research including visiting the DMNS as well as other museums in Colorado, and also drawing from my own past experiences at museums outside of Colorado to see what is currently being implemented in terms of interactive technology, and observe how people interact with these exhibits.
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