[MCN-L] RFP: Museum Collection Database Public Portal User Study

[Erin Richardson]

Hello! Please do not reply to this email address regarding this RFP. You
can follow the directions below (greatly preferred), or send a message to
erichard...@fivecolleges.edu

Request for Proposal

Museums’ Collections Database Public Portal User Study
Summary

Five Colleges, Inc. (FCI) seeks a research partner as it engages in a study
of users of the consortium’s Museums’ Collections Database Public User
Portal. The study is one portion of an Andrew W. Mellon Foundation grant to
plan for the future of joint management of the art and cultural heritage
collections six repositories and to prepare for a linked data environment
across all five college libraries, archives, special collections, and
museums. The research will inform future directions for the public-facing
art and cultural asset discovery experience.
ContextOverall Project

The Museum Collections Management Commons project is a two-year planning
grant funded by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and administered by Five
Colleges, Inc (FCI). and an interdisciplinary, intercampus steering
committee. The project has two main goals. The first is to assess the
current status of the museums’ consortial collection management platform,
functionality, and metadata. The second goal is to plan for
interoperability with campus libraries, archives, and related resources to
enable student and faculty discovery of interconnected regional cultural
assets.

The consortial database (MimsyXG) has been in use since 1995 and is shared
by UMass Amherst’s University Museum of Contemporary Art, Amherst College’s
Mead Art Museum, Smith College Museum of Art, Mount Holyoke College Art
Museum, Hampshire College’s Gallery, and Historic Deerfield. The database
is administered and stewarded by FCI and collections are published to the
web via a public portal. 

For more than 50 years, FCI’s work has included the continual development
of an integrated library system, providing unified access to the rich
physical and electronic resources distributed across five campuses.
Beginning in the 1990s, this commitment was complemented by a parallel
project to open up discovery of and access to the museum collections held
within the member campuses by creating a consortial database with a
public-facing portal. Additionally, FCI coordinates Museums10, a dynamic
collaborative of 10 museums in the immediate region that inspire, engage
and enrich their communities through shared experiences of art, literature,
history, and the natural world.  Not only have these initiatives been of
wide benefit to academic and broader communities, they have established a
strong foundation of collaborative practice encompassing governance
structures, funding models, shared systems, and coordinated operations.
This culture of cooperation positions FCI to advance to an even more
collaborative and innovative endeavor: to optimize effective
cross-collection discovery to unlock the extraordinary cultural heritage
and scholarly resources held within the consortium.

As a critical step on this journey, FCI is preparing to upgrade the
consortial museum database to a next-generation solution.  At its core this
project will identify a strategy that will maintain (and improve) the
integrity of collection metadata and collection management processes. More
broadly, the project will define the requirements for a solution that will
allow for the integration of the museum data with other collection
discovery systems; that could be extended to incorporate additional managed
collections of artifacts; and that is undergirded by a sustainable vision
for coordinated oversight, staffing, and support.

The overall project is conceived as having two primary, parallel
trajectories. The first is a research process to assess current needs and
context to develop a set of functional requirements for a future system and
to identify the steps necessary for implementation. The second will focus
on organizational development, mapping new cross-collection systems of
governance, planning and communication to facilitate increased coordination
across museums, libraries and archives. This second phase seeks to break
down silos that impede collaboration and to diagnose the imbalanced
distribution of expertise and capacity across the colleges and their
special collections to build and sustain a more robust cross-collection
network of knowledge and discovery.

The proposed project aims to address significant challenges posed by the
unique, and still pioneering, shared database model, including:  1)
adopting controlled vocabularies, 2) instituting a formal metadata
governance system, 3) developing specifications for a new collection
management system that incorporates linked data across many managed
collections at the five campuses and broader Museums10 group, and 4)
providing  for the possibility of a federated discovery experience for
external and internal stakeholders.
Purpose of User Study

The user study 

Re: [MCN-L] mcn-l Digest, Vol 179, Issue 6 - using Matterport

[Robin White]

Hi Meredith,

We used Matterport type software to document the exhibition We Are Nature: 
Living in the Anthropocene at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. The 
software works well if your goal is simply to document an exhibition for 
archival purposes. If you want to make it useful for educators you will want to 
add hot spots with text, audio, video and 2D/3D images attached. 

Working with GuidiGo, our partner on the Carnegie project, we produced a lot of 
audio and some video content to help visitors understand what the exhibition 
was about.  

It’s more challenging if you want to provide an engaging visitor experience, 
beyond simply documenting the exhibition. For one thing, you don’t really feel 
like you’re in the space unless you’re using a VR headset. You can see the 
difference by comparing the  Oculus Go headset 
 vs. the desktop 
 version of our We Are Nature project. The more 
immersive experience is more enjoyable than simply pointing and clicking on a 
flat screen.

The other thing is that these are such solitary experiences, another reason why 
they don’t convey a sense of “being there.” Adding video of a curator or 
educator or artist actually speaking directly to visitors could help, giving 
them a feeling that they were not alone in the space.

I hope this is useful info. Happy to discuss further if that’s helpful.

All best,

Robin

Robin White Owen
M: 917/407-7641
T: 646/472-5145
ro...@mediacombo.net
MediaCombo 
@rocombo 

Check out our most recent article about using Virtual Reality 

And
Subscribe to our newsletter here! 


> On Aug 12, 2020, at 8:00 AM, mcn-l-requ...@mcn.edu wrote:
> 
> Message: 2
> Date: Tue, 11 Aug 2020 16:04:33 +
> From: "Meredith L. Steinfels" 
> To: "mcn-l@mcn.edu" 
> Subject: [MCN-L] Matterport
> Message-ID:
>   
> 
>   
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
> 
> Greetings,
> 
> Has anyone used Matterport to document and share their in-gallery 
> exhibitions?  If so, would you be willing to share your experience?  Please 
> feel free to reply off thread.
> 
> Thanks,
> Meredith

Robin White Owen
M: 917/407-7641
T: 646/472-5145
ro...@mediacombo.net
MediaCombo 
@rocombo 

Check out our most recent article about using Virtual Reality 

And
Subscribe to our newsletter here! 



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Re: [MCN-L] Eliminating headphones

[hoplist]

I have historically recommended that any exhibit with headphones also include a 
standard mini jack for personal headphones. This is not a response to Covid but 
rather to the general visitor discomfort with sharing headphones. I also 
suggest that inexpensive ear bud type headphones be made available for purchase 
since visitors don’t habitually travel with headphones in their pockets. The 
cost of adding a mini-jack to an exhibit with headphones is usually 
inconsequential, even retroactively. The functionality is often already there, 
just not implemented.

Unfortunately, mini jacks don’t work for bluetooth headphones, so it’s tempting 
to consider adding a bluetooth connection. But making a bluetooth connection 
direct to headphones is complex as you’ve observed. Pairing is difficult to do 
without a visual user interface. I don’t believe this is practical at this 
time. It may never be since making it easy would have to be a feature in the 
headphones, not the exhibit design, and why would manufacturers care?

However, using Bluetooth to connect to visitor phones to provide a personal 
interface is promising. I know of at least three companies capable of 
implementing this now, via wi-fi or bluetooth, and I’m sure many others could. 
At the moment, these would still be “custom” solutions, but companies are 
working on “commoditizing” this approach. 

Streaming audio is fine for asynchronous audio, but not for synchronous 
delivery. And it’s effectively the same as a mobile app or web delivery.

“Focused” speakers are not, in and of themselves, a solution. Acoustic control 
requires wholistic design. Focused speakers can be a part of this but without 
environmental controls they don’t solve the problem. With wholistic acoustic 
design, you often don’t need hyper focused speakers. I generally prefer 
“narrow-beam” rather than “focused” in a wholistic design.

Cheers,
tod

Tod Hopkins
Hillmann & Carr Inc.




> On Aug 12, 2020, at 10:23 AM, George Scharoun  wrote:
> 
> Hi all,
> 
> I'm curious to know how you have or plan to adapt to new hygiene standards in 
> terms of headphones, specifically the type attached to a video or interactive 
> in the galleries.
> Do you have short term fixes or long term strategies you'd like to share or 
> think through?
> 
> Some ideas (all with pros and cons I think):
> -Streaming audio at QR-code link
> -Focused speakers
> -Open headphone jack, plug in your own
> -Create new content silent by design when speakers aren't appropriate
> -Move content to mobile app or web
> 
> Looking forward to hearing from others,
> George
> 
> -
> 
> George Scharoun
> He/him/his
> Manager of Exhibition and Gallery Media
> Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
> gschar...@mfa.org | 617-276-5217 (mobile)
> www.mfa.org
> The MFA is currently closed and staff are working remotely
> 
> ___
> You are currently subscribed to mcn-l, the listserv of the Museum Computer 
> Network (http://www.mcn.edu)
> 
> To post to this list, send messages to: mcn-l@mcn.edu
> 
> To unsubscribe or change mcn-l delivery options visit:
> http://mcn.edu/mailman/listinfo/mcn-l
> 
> The MCN-L archives can be found at:
> http://www.mail-archive.com/mcn-l@mcn.edu/
> 
> 

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[MCN-L] FINAL CFP: IEEE TALE 2020 EdTech & STEM Ed Conference - Online/Virtual, 8-11 Dec (Scopus, Ei Compendex, CPCI)

[Lee, Mark]

++

FINAL CALL FOR PAPERS

IEEE 2020: An International Conference on Engineering, Technology & Education

8-11 December 2020 - Online/Virtual

http://tale2020.org/

Submission Deadline: 17 August 2020

++

TALE is the IEEE Education Society's premier conference series in the 
Asia-Pacific region ( http://www.tale-conference.org/ ). It aims to provide a 
forum for scholars and practitioners to share their knowledge and experience in 
engineering and technology education, as well as in technology-enabled 
educational innovation across a variety of academic and professional 
disciplines. The target audience of the conference is diverse and includes 
those working in the higher education, vocational education and training (VET), 
K-12, corporate, government and healthcare sectors.

The theme of this year's conference is "Embarking on a new era of learning with 
transformative technologies."

The conference theme challenges us to look anew at how the potential of current 
and emerging technologies can and/or should be harnessed for education and 
learning in our ever-changing world. Over the last several decades, digital 
technologies have revolutionized the way we work, play and learn-arguably 
changing our lives for the better overall-but they have not come without their 
problems and challenges (e.g., environmental degradation, social inequity 
arising from the "digital divide," ethical and moral dilemmas brought about by 
artificial intelligence). Over the next ten years (2020-2029), technologies 
such as AI, robotics, brain-computer interfaces, and extended or cross-reality 
(XR) that augment human sensory abilities, cognition and performance will 
continue to evolve and have a transformative impact. How can we ensure this 
transformation is positive, both for and through learning? As these 
technologies increasingly blur the boundaries between human and machine, and 
between physical and virtual, what can we do so the technology works toward our 
advantage, for the betterment of all of society and of our planet? Participants 
of TALE 2020 are encouraged to engage with these and other questions from 
creative, multidimensional and interdisciplinary perspectives as we stand on 
the precipice of this new era of learning with transformative technologies.


CORE TRACKS

1. Engineering Education (University/College)
2. Computing & IT Education (University/College)
3. STEM Education (K-12)
4. Technology-Enhanced Learning
5. Open, Flexible & Distance Learning
6. Workplace & Industry-Based Learning


SPECIAL TRACKS

1. XR and Immersive Learning Environments

Organized in conjunction with the Immersive Learning Research Network (iLRN)
http://tale2020.org/special-track-1/

2. Learning analytics for the next phase: Empowerment of learning using 
learning analytics
Organized in conjunction with Learning and Educational Data Science Research 
Unit (LEDS), Kyushu University
http://tale2020.org/special-track-2/

3. Preparing the workforce for Industry 4.0: Robotics, automation, and 
ubiquitous smart technologies in education
Organized in cooperation with Kyoto University of Advanced Science (KUAS)
http://tale2020.org/special-track-3/


TOPICS

Topics of interest include but are not limited to the following:

- Academic Staff/Faculty Development
- Accreditation and Quality Assurance
- Active Learning Spaces
- Artificial Intelligence in Education
- Assessment and Evaluation
- Blockchain in Education
- Capstone Projects and Project-Based Learning
- Computer-Based Learning and Courseware Technologies
- Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning
- Continuing Education and Lifelong Learning
- Curriculum Design
- Distance, Open and Flexible Education
- Educational Data Mining and Learning Analytics
- Educational Games and Simulations
- Educational Policy, Leadership and Administration
- Entrepreneurship Programs
- Ethical, Legal and Social Justice Issues (e.g., Access, Equity)
- Gender and Diversity
- Generic Skills (e.g., Communications, Teamwork)
- Human-Machine Collaborative Learning
- Industry Linkages and Partnerships
- Instructional and Learning Design
- Intelligent Tutoring Systems
- Introductory Engineering and Computing Courses
- Just-in-Time Learning and Job Performance Support
- K-12 Initiatives and Partnerships
- Laboratory Experiences (On-Campus and Remote)
- Learning Management Systems
- Learning Technology Standards and Standardization
- Marketing and Outreach for Engineering and Computing Programs
- Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs)
- Microcredentialing and Badges
- Online/E-Learning and Blended Learning
- Open Educational Resources (OER)
- Personal Data and Security in Education
- Research Training (Undergraduate and Postgraduate)
- Robotics in Education
- Service Learning and Experiential Learning
- STE(A)M education in K-12 or higher education
- Technology Infrastructure for Supporting 

Re: [MCN-L] Eliminating headphones

[Matthew Wagner]

Hi George,

I have a client that is considering Bluetooth and Bluetooth beacons but
they are currently looking at potential barriers (and there are a few of
them). While practicality might be an issue, so many headphone have
Bluetooth capabilities that pairs with relative ease. Hopefully if things
go well, I can ask them to share. They are currently using this as a long
term strategy for self-guided tours.

Best,
Matt

On Wed, Aug 12, 2020 at 10:27 AM George Scharoun  wrote:

> Hi all,
>
> I'm curious to know how you have or plan to adapt to new hygiene standards
> in terms of headphones, specifically the type attached to a video or
> interactive in the galleries.
> Do you have short term fixes or long term strategies you'd like to share
> or think through?
>
> Some ideas (all with pros and cons I think):
> -Streaming audio at QR-code link
> -Focused speakers
> -Open headphone jack, plug in your own
> -Create new content silent by design when speakers aren't appropriate
> -Move content to mobile app or web
>
> Looking forward to hearing from others,
> George
>
> -
>
> George Scharoun
> He/him/his
> Manager of Exhibition and Gallery Media
> Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
> gschar...@mfa.org | 617-276-5217 (mobile)
> www.mfa.org
> The MFA is currently closed and staff are working remotely
>
> ___
> You are currently subscribed to mcn-l, the listserv of the Museum Computer
> Network (http://www.mcn.edu)
>
> To post to this list, send messages to: mcn-l@mcn.edu
>
> To unsubscribe or change mcn-l delivery options visit:
> http://mcn.edu/mailman/listinfo/mcn-l
>
> The MCN-L archives can be found at:
> http://www.mail-archive.com/mcn-l@mcn.edu/
>


-- 
Matthew Wagner
www.wagnmw.com
@wagnmw 
Pronouns: he/his
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[MCN-L] Eliminating headphones

[George Scharoun]

Hi all,

I'm curious to know how you have or plan to adapt to new hygiene standards in 
terms of headphones, specifically the type attached to a video or interactive 
in the galleries.
Do you have short term fixes or long term strategies you'd like to share or 
think through?

Some ideas (all with pros and cons I think):
-Streaming audio at QR-code link
-Focused speakers
-Open headphone jack, plug in your own
-Create new content silent by design when speakers aren't appropriate
-Move content to mobile app or web

Looking forward to hearing from others,
George

-

George Scharoun
He/him/his
Manager of Exhibition and Gallery Media
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
gschar...@mfa.org | 617-276-5217 (mobile)
www.mfa.org
The MFA is currently closed and staff are working remotely

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