# Presentation: 303021

- Of e-Labs and i-Labs:

## Informal education

- Informal Ed

- Formal Ed

- Programs for school groups at the museum

- Classes for museum visitors

- Museum exhibits

- “free choice” learning
- Life-long learning

**Challenges:**
- Competitive
- Short term

## Prototyping the iLab

- Informal Ed version of Cosmic Ray eLab

## Prototyping the iLab

- Hidden Universe

- Adler Staff
- Possible Theme
- Development of iLab
- KUD / PDSA
- Physical Environments for iLab Cart
- Concepts to Test
- Facilitation Environment for iLab
- Existing Adler Infrastructure with "Hidden Universe" Content

- iLab Development

- Mark SubbaRao, Astronomer (Project Lead)
- Steve Skutnik, Educator
- Christine Minerva, Educator
- Karen Swade, Educator (Evaluation)
- Daniela Rosner, Multi-media & Visualization 	Designer/Developer

- Adler Staff - Introductions

- Theme: Exploring a "Hidden Universe"

- Experimentation

**Integration challenges**
- Altitude and Azimuth
- Location
- GPS
- Fixed orientation

- Visualization

- Visualization of Aires simulation results
-  Run simulations + Visualizations a web service?

- a Mobile, cart-like object
- a Lab: a literal laboratory, housing different physical objects for astronomy research, (includes cosmic ray detector panels)
- Aesthetic Appeal: the standalone object, un-facilitated, will engage the attention of the general audience
- Standalone Context: when left un-facilitated, a panel describing the iLab's use and facilitated show times will accompany the object

- Development of iLab Cart

- Focus is on science process
- Grid/Distributed Computing
- Adler needs: Methods of engagement to understand complex content.
- “Informal” collaborations

- Know, Do and Understand (KUD and PDSA):

-         Facilitated Physical Environment (for Informal Ed):
- 		Demonstration Theater (by Informal Educator)
- Facilitated Physical Environment  (for Formal Ed, such as CCCs):
- 	Cyberspace Studio (by Formal Programs Educator)
- Non-Facilitated Physical Environment:
- 	Milky Way theater

- Physical Environments for iLab Cart

- Visualization
- 	-- Does using visualization to explain complex science content improve science literacy?
- Content Access Point
- 	-- Do introductions to complex content make a difference in engaging the museum visitor?
- Physical Environment
- 	 -- What physical environment at the Adler is best suited to engage a general audience in complex science content?
*Possible Matrix for Testing Questions:*
*	**Visualization vs. Content Access Point*

- Concepts to Test

- 1. Demo Space
- Advantages:
- 	+ Space for 25 + people
- 	+ Milky Way gallery for invisible universe exhibits
- 	+ Ability to improve space for future informal education use:
- 		* upgrade sound system
- 		* wireless microphones
- Disadvantages:
- 	-Deficient sound in current state
- 	-Accessibility: hard to find-approachability: hard to come and go
- 2.  Cyberspace
- Advantages:
- 	+Space for 25 + people
- 	+IR Cam+Sky 360
- 	+Technical Preparation
- Disadvantages:
- 	-Accessibility: hard to find
- 	-Approachability: hard to come and go

- Physical Environment for iLab Facilitation

- 3.  In front of the Sun Dome
- Advantages:
- 	+ accessibility: easy to find
- 	+ approachability: easy to come and go
- 	+ ability to improve space for future informal 		education use:
- 		* new walls for sound concentration
- 		* new sound system
- 		* wireless microphones
- Disadvantages:
- 	-deficient sound in current state
- 	-maximum 10 or so people

- Interactive "Sky at 360 Degrees" (Cybersapce)
- Infrared camera (Cyberspace)
- Sun in different wavelengths (Milky Way Gallery)
- Milky Way in different wavelengths  (Milky Way Gallery)

- Physical Environment for iLab Facilitation Cont.

- Concluding Remarks

- The team is excited to get started
- Institutional buy-in
- First floor demos in January