Summative :: Carroll, B. & Robels, D. (2007). BioQuest Woods Summative Evaluation Report. [Inverness Research Associates] Museum of Life and Science.

last updated: 2008-11-13 16:10:37

Project Name	BioQuest Woods: Explore the Wild & Catch the Wind
Project Lead	Museum of Life and Science
Project Website	http://www.ncmls.org/visit/campus-and-exhibits/exhibits/
Associated Grant	NSF#9627030
Report Author(s)	Becky Carroll, Dawn Robels
Evaluation Organization(s)	Inverness Research Associates
Download Report	Evaluation-_Final_Report.pdf

Summary

BioQuest is a 10-acre track within the Museum of Life and Science’s (MLS) 84-acre site, where lush wetland, woodland and field habitats have been transformed into two outdoor learning environments: Explore the Wild and Catch the Wind. Explore the Wild is located within a six-acre quarry basin of woodland and wetland habitats, and includes captive black bears, red wolves, and lemurs and interactive exhibits that enable one to explore the world of a wildlife biologist. Catch the Wind is a four-acre knoll and woodland edge where one may explore the aerial environment within a blend of natural features, landscaping, and hands-on exhibits, including a 5,000 SF sailboat pond for remote control boats and a 30-foot high seed tower.

This summative evaluation report, prepared by Inverness Research Associates, reviews some key challenges that the exhibit developers at the Museum of Life and Science faced when creating BioQuest Woods:
-Preserving and enhancing the inherent beauty of the natural landscape
-Maximizing the use of space in accessible and family-friendly ways
-Incorporating exhibits and technology in ways that enhance—rather than impede—the visitor experience with animals and nature
-Incorporating exhibits and technology that would be durable and withstand the elements
-Conducting formative evaluation of components out of context

The report also highlights the Museum of Life and Science exhibit developers' achievements:
-Designers were able to maintain the integrity and intent of the BioQuest Woods vision over many years, while working with a wide range of investors and partners.
-Designers created an exhibition that supports the Museum’s broader goals for the type of experiences they want visitors to have.
-With the addition of BioQuest Woods, the MLS made significant strides towards several of their long-term institutional goals: to extend and enhance the indoor exhibits, and to create reasons for people to return to the Museum.

In addition, the report summarizes the main findings from the observations of and interviews with visitors during the summative study:
-BioQuest Woods provided engaging experiences and in-depth inquiry opportunities for visitors.
-Visitors reported that they learned from their experience in BioQuest Woods.
-Visitors responded positively to the natural surroundings.
-Most visitors responded positively to the use of technology-based exhibits to teach about animal ecology in this context.
-Visitors brought their own experiences in nature to the exhibitions and spoke of how they had taken ideas from the exhibitions back to their lives.
-Visitors came away from their experiences in BioQuest Woods with a renewed interest in the Museum.

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