the ford education center
DESCRIPTION
In October 2008, the National Postal Museum re-opened the Ford Education Center with new interactives and a fresh exhibition face-lift. Each of the five (5) kiosks offer new and engaging interactives and give portal access to sections of the museum’s website including Arago, the award-winning web-site that gives digital access to the museum’s collections. The center is designed to be a place where the museum themes of philately and postal history come together. It allows visitors to access museum content through varied media and experiences and provide a welcome environment for them to take a break! Using the Ford Education Center should also help visitors realize the value and depth of our website and onsite resources. The Ford Education Center was made possible by a 10-year grant from the Ford Motor Company Fund. This grant established a long-term educational partnership with the National Postal Museum.TRANSCRIPT
![Page 1: The Ford Education Center](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022061214/547d83b8b379594e2b8b5273/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
at the National Postal Museum
![Page 2: The Ford Education Center](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022061214/547d83b8b379594e2b8b5273/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
![Page 3: The Ford Education Center](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022061214/547d83b8b379594e2b8b5273/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
• The Ford Education Center consists of five new and engaging interactive touch screens on the National Postal Museum’s floor.
• It allows visitors to access museum content through varied media and experiences and provide a welcome environment for them to take a break!
• Using the Ford Education Center should also help visitors realize the value and depth of our website and onsite resources.
![Page 4: The Ford Education Center](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022061214/547d83b8b379594e2b8b5273/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
Overview
• Goals• Brief History• Mission• Audiences• Features
![Page 5: The Ford Education Center](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022061214/547d83b8b379594e2b8b5273/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
• Goals:
• To provide on-site access to the digitized museum collection
• Create a space in the museum where – postal & philatelic themes come together, – and web-site & gallery experience come together
![Page 6: The Ford Education Center](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022061214/547d83b8b379594e2b8b5273/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
• Brief History
• 2002: the Ford Motor Company donated $1.5 to NPM’s Education Department in part to create an exhibition in the museum atrium
• 2003: Opening of the Ford Education Center (version 1.0)
![Page 7: The Ford Education Center](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022061214/547d83b8b379594e2b8b5273/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
• May 2006: the National Postal Museum launched Arago™, its new websiteArago is dedicated to providing on-line access to the vast collections and treasures of the National Postal Museum. This award-winning website is a gateway to treasures on display and behind-the-scenes. www.arago.si.edu
• 2007-08: integrate Arago and the Ford Education Center to better serve our museum visitors’ access to digitized collections
![Page 8: The Ford Education Center](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022061214/547d83b8b379594e2b8b5273/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
Missions
• Reinforce the Museum experience
• A place where the museum comes together thematically
• Offers content through varied media & experience
• Provides a welcome environment, as a break during museum exploration
• Facilitates visitor interaction between the galleries and the Ford Education Center
• Encourages interaction within a group of visitors
• Use Arago to access the museums collections and digital assets directly and through mediated interface
![Page 9: The Ford Education Center](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022061214/547d83b8b379594e2b8b5273/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
Missions
• Extend the Museum experience beyond visit
• Ensures that visitors recognize the Arago & web-site Highlights extend to their homes & schools
• Engages a dialog with the visitors. Personalize the museum experience.
![Page 10: The Ford Education Center](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022061214/547d83b8b379594e2b8b5273/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
Audiences
• Primary Audience– Families
• Secondary Audience– First time visitors– Curious museum guests– Other People Motivation
![Page 11: The Ford Education Center](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022061214/547d83b8b379594e2b8b5273/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
Features
![Page 12: The Ford Education Center](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022061214/547d83b8b379594e2b8b5273/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
0.0 Home screen
Goal: orient museum guests
![Page 13: The Ford Education Center](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022061214/547d83b8b379594e2b8b5273/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
1.0 Virtual Vault
Goal: Get a mediated access to Arago
![Page 14: The Ford Education Center](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022061214/547d83b8b379594e2b8b5273/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
2.0 Timelines of Postal HistoryGoal: Recognize the progression of events by
making connections between postal and philatelic themes
![Page 15: The Ford Education Center](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022061214/547d83b8b379594e2b8b5273/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
3.0 Museum’s Must SeesGoal: Have a deeper understanding of 15
“hit” objects on display in the galleries
![Page 16: The Ford Education Center](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022061214/547d83b8b379594e2b8b5273/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
4.0 Matching GameGoal: Engage with the museum themes by
matching pairs and identifying topical groupings of objects
![Page 17: The Ford Education Center](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022061214/547d83b8b379594e2b8b5273/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
5.0 All Aboard to Sort the MailGoal: Experience the challenge of sorting the
mail on board of a moving train
![Page 18: The Ford Education Center](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022061214/547d83b8b379594e2b8b5273/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
6.0 The ABCs of Stamp CollectingGoal: Be introduced to the basics tools and
methods of philately
![Page 19: The Ford Education Center](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022061214/547d83b8b379594e2b8b5273/html5/thumbnails/19.jpg)
7.0 Museum FAQsGoal: Direct educators, including parents, to
resources directly applicable to their museum visit agenda
![Page 20: The Ford Education Center](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022061214/547d83b8b379594e2b8b5273/html5/thumbnails/20.jpg)
8.0 Speak Out!Goal: Give feedback and qualitative
information about the Ford Education Center’s experience
![Page 21: The Ford Education Center](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022061214/547d83b8b379594e2b8b5273/html5/thumbnails/21.jpg)
9.0 Welcome to the Postal MuseumGoal: Introduce hearing impaired and Spanish
speakers to the museum themes and galleries
![Page 22: The Ford Education Center](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022061214/547d83b8b379594e2b8b5273/html5/thumbnails/22.jpg)
Schedule
![Page 23: The Ford Education Center](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022061214/547d83b8b379594e2b8b5273/html5/thumbnails/23.jpg)
Time frame
July -Aug 07
Sept - Oct 07
Nov -Dec 07
Jan -Feb 08
Mar -Apr 08
May -June 08
July -Aug 08
Sept - Oct 08
Opening
Planning
Kick-Off
Testing
90%
Executing
![Page 24: The Ford Education Center](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022061214/547d83b8b379594e2b8b5273/html5/thumbnails/24.jpg)
Next Steps
Summative evaluation during spring 2009
Publish results from summative in the summer-fall of 2009
![Page 25: The Ford Education Center](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022061214/547d83b8b379594e2b8b5273/html5/thumbnails/25.jpg)
Budget
• Our final budget was just under $200,000
• We went over on a couple of details because NPM raised its demands on contractor and accepted to go out of scope
![Page 26: The Ford Education Center](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022061214/547d83b8b379594e2b8b5273/html5/thumbnails/26.jpg)