ACADEMIC PROJECT • SPRING 2023
Rethinking how kids interact with museums by making screen time productive
MY WORK
UX research, UI/UX design, visual design, user testing
TOOLS
CONTEXT
Are screens effective as a
learning tool?
While excessive reliance on screens raises concerns about potential harm to cognitive growth, screens can also serve as tools for learning when used thoughtfully. Striking a balance is key—leveraging the educational potential of screen media while mitigating its risks to support healthy development.
THE CHALLENGE
How might we fully engage children in a space meant for learning?
Where is the gap stemming from?
While museums offer rich opportunities for learning, many children approach museum exhibits as mere entertainment or distractions, missing the deeper educational value and opportunities for active learning, instead opting to stay glued to their phones.
Project timeline
UNDERSTANDING THE SPACE
How and when do kids decide to learn?
Questions and answers
My goal was to understand what motivates kids to engage with museums and learn, particularly those who often struggle to stay focused during visits.
To do so, I completed:
Competitive analysis & secondary research
Expert interviews with an Exhibit Content Developer at the Boston Museum of Science, and a designer at RLMG, a digital design studio specializing in interactive installations for public spaces.
User interviews with 4 kids, 2 parents, and 1 middle school science teacher to understand their motivations and interactions with interactive educational content.
Exhibits seem interesting on paper but fail to engage children in real life
Although museums provide interactive exhibits, there is a gap in how these experiences capture and sustain kids' attention.
Engagement requires more than just interaction; children need to see forge a personal connection and see relevance.
Guided exploration enhances learning, and structured activities can discourage superficial engagement.
Exhibits often miss the mark, as children frequently see museum exhibits as mere entertainment rather than educational tools
User personas that arose from my research
DESIGN EXPLORATION
Imagining solutions that guide engagement.
Synthesized requirements:
The app transforms passive screen time into an active, educational scavenger hunt, guiding children through exhibits while ensuring they engage meaningfully with the content.
The app must provide a guided framework that helps children navigate the museum without feeling overwhelmed or disconnected from the learning experience.
THE SOLUTION
Reimagining active engagement
Aiming to revolutionize how children engage with museum exhibits, Ology transforms the learning experience by guiding them through interactive scavenger hunts that highlight key exhibits and educational content.
Explore
Home
Profile
Home
Discover
Join
Shop
Library
Explore
Discover Arctic
Adventures
Hunt the MoS’ newest exhibit!
Share your knowledge with a scavenger hunt
Create
Explore scavenger hunts at the Museum of Science
Hunt
0
XP
Hi Davy!
Let’s get learning
Complete scavenger hunts created by the Boston Museum of Science
Add Cover Image
Add question
Title
Default
Add a title
Public
Theme
Visibility
Questions (0)
Cancel
Save
Create hunt
Create your own scavenger hunt and share it with the Ology community or send to your friends
PIN
1
2
ABC
3
DEF
4
GHI
5
JKL
6
MNO
7
PQRS
8
TUV
9
WXYZ
0
Join game
Scan QR Code
Enter Pin
Enter