EDAM project Exploratorium Digital Asset Management IMLS grant

EDAM project (Exploratorium Digital Asset Management) IMLS grant #10028 Bacteria producing color

Project Goals • • A virtual library accessible via the Web Provide quick access for staff and external audiences Create a collection of 10, 000 catalogued digital assets Focus on the best of the photo archive Colored Shadows

Project Goals Bending Light • Make data exportable and compatible with international standards • Anticipate future uses and needs • Document what we learn

Project Requirements • Learning the field – Esoteric jargon (interoperability, granularity of data, learning objects, METADATA) – Evolving standards – Information specialists, techies, and other geeks Genetic Eye Color

Project Requirements The Team: Information Specialist, Project Coordinator Rose

Project Requirements The Team: Indexer, Staff Support Megan

Project Requirements The Team: Digital Image Quality Control Kate

Project Requirements The Team: Internal IT Issues; Vendor Relations Ron

Project Requirements Technology • Software: Cumulus by Canto; multi-user system for staff; Web publishing module for external users; customized interfaces • Hardware: Sun. Sparc server, NT network for internal users • In-house know-how Exhibit Builder

Project Requirements Planning • • • Duck Into Kaleidoscope Needs assessment Digitization plan International standards Conceptual framework Back-up, storage, security, maintenance

Project Requirements Time and Patience • Unexpected technical difficulties • Infrastructure development Hexagon in a cube

Project Requirements Time and Patience • Cultural barriers; territoriality; trust; buy-in • Inconsistent intellectual property policies • Beta testers; training and hand-holding Bubbles demonstrate osmosis

Outcomes, Lesson Learned, & Surprises • Popularity with users • Improved efficiency and customer service • Agent of change; capacity building; core of experienced users • New resources as users grasp potential Bubblemania

Outcomes, Lesson Learned, & Surprises • Democratization of asset creation • Quality control issues

Outcomes, Lesson Learned, & Surprises Staff support time; learning curve

Outcomes, Lesson Learned, & Surprises • Digitize and catalog each asset ONCE! • Let go; what’s lost is lost; prevent future loss Scattered blue light from ice cave Bone Stress

Outcomes, Lesson Learned, & Surprises • Positive financial impact; efficiency of access and delivery • A clearer sense of necessary next steps Yosemite Falls

User Feedback from Educators

User Feedback from Educators • How have you used EDAM? – – – “Lesson plan inspiration, development, embellishment” “…to prepare for a field trip and a student worksheet” “…for my workshops on holographic imaging at MIT. ” “Needed a lab activity and EDAM was a resource. ” “to show natural phenomena and relate to physical principles. ” Diffuse Reflection

User Feedback from Educators • 75% found the online catalog Acceptable to Very Easy to use • 84% found it Acceptable to Very Easy to adapt and customize an EDAM asset Interfering Water Ripples

User Feedback from Educators • 73% reported EDAM had not changed the way they teach, however: – “It hasn’t changed the way I teach (yet!!); it has just made it much easier to locate and use visual resources in my lessons, which I appreciate very much!” Egg Farm

User Feedback from Educators • What have you gained/learned? – 36% reported a better understanding of scientific phenomena – 36% reported an increased ability to teach scientific concepts – Several appreciated free images; “Gained access to a huge number of images to illustrate concepts. ” Giraffe Pattern

User Feedback from Educators • 80% of respondents have an Internet connection speed of 128 K ISDN or higher Leaping Boulders

Going Forward • • • Refine data elements to better meet user needs Refine interface for appeal and ease of use Focus on educators; NSDL project Tackle video and audio archives Strengthen policies Plan for sustainability Antarctic Glacier

EDAM www. exploratorium. edu/educate

Double Rainbow