Collaborative NetworksLeading Collaborative Networks That Give

New Meaning to “Open Source”

Introductions

Carol Valenta

David Chesebrough

Chris Dornfeld

Jennifer Jovanovic

Christian Greer

Valenta Consulting

COSI

Center for Science

Early Learners Collaborative

Saint Louis Science Center

It started with a network of science centers

(NFL 2007, 17,341,012) http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d805b5d53&template=without-video&confirm=true(NFL 2005, 21,792,096) http://www.nfl.com/history/chronology/2001-

60,000,000

20,000,000

15,000,000(NASCAR 13,000,000) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sports_league_attendances#Motor_racing(NASCAR 15,000,000) http://media.corporate-ir.net/media_files/irol/11/113983/923MOTORSPORTSINDUSTRYOVERVIEW.pdf

Association of Science and Technology Centers http://astc.org/about/pdf/Backgrounders/Highlights2009.pdf

Combined, the science centers in the United States have more than 38 million visitors annually – more than the NFL and NASCAR combined.

A new type of collaborative network

• Proactive vs. Reactive to funders

• Managed by outside partner

• Completely “Opt In” and open source

• Inclusive beyond science centers

• Strength in numbers

Building collaborative projects is not easy

Concept Contract Development Activation

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

PM PM PMPM PMCEO CEO

Listen to the experts in your network

because every idea is not a good idea

We focused on what was needed and what can scale

Cost

Scalable

Low

Low High

High

Exhibitions

Games Films

Ed Materials

Social Media

Website

Outreach

Programs

Interactive

Learning

WorkshopsPublic

Relations

Advertising

Mini Games

Impact in first year of activation

6 Local Impact Projects

underway, each leveraging

existing resources

3.8m inserts in National

Geographic reaching over 30

million people

50,000 posters being

distributed in classrooms

across the country

Over 500,000 visitors to the game

and 100,000 active cities

(85% would recommend to friend)

Outstanding Achievement in

Science and Technology Education

- Interactive Media Council

48,000,000 online ad

impressions and over 1.5

million clicks

And we are just getting started…

Reflections from a Science Center Perspective

• A different way to initiate a major initiative

• Challenges of working with a very large corporation

• The project “walk aways”

– New money source

– Local relevance

– Leveraging a corporate name

– Rethinking collaborations and open source

Early Learner Collaborative

• How did Science Beyond the Boundaries grow to include the IMLS Early

Learners Collaborative?

• What does the Early Learners Collaborative include?

• Sharing

• Playing with Science , A Handbook for Museums

• Free Midwest Museums Workshop

• Experiments of the Month

• How will the Early Learners Collaborative continue beyond the grant?

• Grandstand Booth, #417, all Early Childhood, open today 11 am-4:30 pm

• Early Childhood CoP, Mon, Oct 20, 1-2:30 pm, Marbles Kids Museum

Comparing and Contrasting Several

Collaborative Open Source Designs

Christian Greer, Chief Education and Programs Officer

Saint Louis Science Center

ISBE Museums in the Classroom (1995-2000)

• Eight museums and 40 schools initially.

• Started as a justification for wiring classrooms for the internet.

• Focused on bridging distances and improving statewide accessibility

and collaboration.

• Tested new software (QTVR and Videoconferencing)

• Showcased student learning in the classroom.

• Incorporated an instructional-based Open Source model across

formal and informal education organizations.

Park Voyagers – Museums in the Park (1997-2010)

• Year-round multi-institutional citywide outreach program starting

initially with 9 Chicago museums and 27 parks.

• Derived from a need for greater onsite accessibility in neighborhoods.

• Completely supported by the Mayor and community.

• Incorporated a progressive learning approach.

• Directly impacted tens of thousands of kids.

• Incorporated a content-based Open Source model with cross-

disciplinary curriculum.

BOSS Project (2008-2010+)

• IMLS National Leadership Grant awarded to Shedd Aquarium

(Chicago) in 2008.

• Derived from a need to keep pace with dynamic audience interest

and to facilitate better engagement.

• Started within the Education Department but extended out to the rest

of the organization with limited success.

• Had (3) three major foci.

• Incorporated an asset-based Open Source model with shared tools

(code).

HIVE Chicago Learning Network (2010+)

• Created as part of the MacArthur Foundation DML Initiative.

• Started as a way to connect various MacArthur-funded projects and

learning opportunities across a spectrum of engagement.

• Now has Connected Learning as a central framework.

• In several cities around the globe and is presently operated by the

Mozilla Foundation.

• Incorporated an interest-based Open Source model with a

hack/remix focus.

What is the Future of

Collaborative Open Source Networks?

Suggestions for building collaborative networks

• Build a foundation of trust between stakeholders

• Actively listen and stay positive

• Clearly understand and define success

• Understand how you could fail and work to address risks

• Make process as open and transparent as possible

• Keep activation and elements flexible (one size does not fit all)

• Communicate often and expect engagement from stakeholders

• Build from a big idea

• Grit and persistence matters