Mobile devices are an integral part of children’s lives and they are here to stay… Our national debate must shift from whether to use these devices to support learning, to understanding how and when they might best be used. Just as Sesame Street introduced generations of children and their families to the potential of television as an educational medium two generations ago, today’s children will benefit if mobile becomes a force for learning and discovery in the next decade.
This insight comes from a recent report by the Joan Ganz Cooney Center, “Pockets of Potential“.
Posted in Classroom.
By Jonah Model
– September 4, 2009
In an increasingly decentralized world of interest-based learning each student connects with a sea of peers and mentors, learning spaces, and digital resources which together form a learning network. Like a social network, a learning network is personal, informal, and dynamic. It shifts and grows in response to curiosity and question-asking and in this way keeps relevant. It can be mapped, explored, shared.
Chances are you already have a learning network. If the classroom model of education vanished tomorrow where would you go to learn? What tools would you use?
Related Readings
Posted in Classroom, Process.
Tagged with communal constructivism, education, future, networks, participatory learning.
By Jonah Model
– July 4, 2009
During last week’s pilot more than 50 visitors saved artworks to their mobile phones using a site-specific text message application. The response was overwhelmingly positive and I’ve even had a few requests to do installs for other shows. One student from Parsons, Kathryn Proulx, commented on her blog that Origami “totally transformed the experience. Instead of taking everyone’s business cards and writing down their names you could easily have your favorite pieces emailed to you”. Thank you to everyone who gave Origami a try and offered your feedback! I’m looking forward to lots of new designs inspired by all the conversations we’ve been having.
This pilot was significant to my research in several ways. First, the event brought together a diverse group spanning generations and geographies. Second, it took place in a playground of visually and conceptually rich art and design objects. For the first time users made multiple saves, in some cases across multiple visits. Finally, this was the first ever public installation, running without my supervision and without a formal introduction. Visitors received a simple hand-out to explain how Origami works and lead them through the process of their first save.
Installation Data
- Total user count: 51
- Users who replied with email address: 41
- Total museum objects: 216
- Most saves for one museum object: 7 for Eric Kwan Tai Lau’s “Snowflakes“
- Total saves: 136
- Average saves per user: 2.7
- Most saves from one user: 20
- Anything I missed? Write me for more installation data.
Continued…
Posted in Findings, Museum.
Tagged with data, feedback, new york, parsons, sms.
By Jonah Model
– May 26, 2009
When I left the gallery it was frantic with people installing work and setting up refreshments, projectors, and lighting. I have no doubt everything will be ready when the doors open tonight and, much to my relief, Origami is running smoothly.
I did have a few surprises earlier this afternoon — the wireless router that almost got locked in storage, a few spots in the gallery with poor cell reception, and my database that suddenly went haywire — but those are all sorted out. The system is running through a Wi-Fi router, mounted with heavy-duty Velcro under a computer kiosk, and a Nokia E71 phone I’ve hidden somewhere in the gallery. The hardest part was to find a hiding spot with both strong Wi-Fi and cell signal, which was also accessible in case of emergencies but not easy for guests or university maintenance to stumble upon. In case my hiding spot is found out I’ve appended a plea inside the phone’s case: “Please do not remove this phone! It is vital for AMT Exhibition. Thank you.”
I’m looking forward to seeing how this gigantic user test goes. If you are in the area please stop by and say hello.
This hand-out is available at both entrances of 2 W. 13th Street and several resting spots.
Continued…
Posted in Museum, Product.
Tagged with design, new york, parsons, print.
By Jonah Model
– May 15, 2009
Origami makes its debut this Friday at the Art, Media and Technology BFA Thesis Exhibition. The event, hosted by Parsons the New School for Design, is free and open to the public and will run until Saturday, May 23rd.
Both digital and physical artworks from the exhibition have been assigned short number codes (44, 124, etc.). These codes can be found on object labels throughout the exhibition and online. If during your visit you send Origami a text message with one of these codes you will receive art images, project details, and an artist website. Continued…
Posted in Museum, Product.
Tagged with art, design, event, install, new york, parsons, sms.
By Jonah Model
– May 11, 2009
A museum visitor saves a favorite painting by sending a text
Save artworks to your mobile. At the museum visitors submit simple codes by text message. Each code corresponds to a work of art and references relevant online resources, including images, artist information, and web links. These resources are delivered by email, summarizing the day’s discoveries and helping to reinforce memories of the visit.
Posted in Museum, Process.
Tagged with code, email, mobile, sms, time, user experience.
By Jonah Model
– April 28, 2009
At the Cloisters in New York City, a visitor pinpoints a suit of armor using his smartphone
Posted in Museum, Process.
Tagged with cloisters, email, glyph, iphone, map, user experience.
By Jonah Model
– January 21, 2009
