Smarthistory/PAM collaboration

• To test the smarthistory model in a museum• To break down barriers between “interpreters”• To introduce less didactic, more open-ended

methods of interpretation• To pilot a sustainable model for technology-

based interpretation• To give visitors (and interpreters!) permission to

talk, and look, and think out loud….

Evaluation

• 100 intercept questionnaires of visitors, 11-12/09• Goals: • Gather visitor impressions of the conversation

format of the videos• Gather visitor impressions of the iphone

application

Summary

• 61 thought videos gave them deeper experience of artwork

• 55 thought it helped them appreciate the artwork more

• 14 thought it distracted from experience• 25 found videos too long• 4 found they had no effect

Conversation format

• “The Museum decided to make these videos as conversations rather than recording one expert talking about the work of art. Did you like or dislike the conversation format? Why?”

• Liked: 60• Liked some of them: 4• Ok/neutral: 11• Dislike: 13• Other: 6

Some (Positive) Visitor Comments…

•“Liked it because it gave you a chance to agree or disagree.”

•“The conversations are good for a variety of learning styles… cool and current.”

•“Makes you feel a part of the discussion.”

•“It was funny. I liked that it was casual, enjoyable, and informative, but not preachy-teachy.”

•“I loved it. It was so charming. So much more interesting, calming, and interactive.”

Some (So-So)Visitor Comments…

•“I disliked it because there was too much opinion about what the artist did and why.”

•“I kind of disliked it. I wasn’t so interested in them making jokes. I liked the informality, but I would prefer one person talking. The eavesdropping didn’t work for me.”

•“I prefer an expert—knowing for sure that something is something.”

Questions raised by evaluation

• Do people conflate informality with an absence of expertise, and deep content?

• Did we raise the “expertise” issue with our phrasing of the question?

• The preexisting expectations of visitors regarding museum audio

• Do the videos really encourage visitors’ own conversations in the galleries?