Interactive installations: Exploring collaborative working practice through

blended learningand public engagement

Robert Mackay

&

Andrew King

Interactive Projects

• Musicians

• Video artists

• Programmers

• Blended learning

• Public engagement

Background

• Social constructivist (Daniels, 2001)

• Experiential learning (Dewey, 1938)

• Public engagement (Couldry, 2010)

• Blended learning (Allan, 2007; Littlejohn & Pegler, 2007)

• Computer Supported Collaborative Learning (CSCL) (Crook, 1994)

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Method

• Project running since 2009

• 13 groups of undergraduates (3 per group)

• Design brief

• Pitch ideas to professional client (Rotunda museum)

• Professional consultant (Apollo Creative)

• Online learning (blog/diary)

• Thematic analysis

Brain Awareness (March 2009)

• Pilot project for study

• Part of ‘Brain Awareness Week’

• Interface design

• School project

Charmed (November 2009)

• Collaboration with Rotunda Museum

• More focussed brief

• Part of ‘Here Be Dragons’

• Presentation of prototype

• Video development

• Music demos

• Interface demonstration

Charms of the Sea (November 2010)

• Re-focussed brief

• Developed technical set-up

• Students critique museum interactives

• Trade

• Protection

• Health

• Good catch

Feedback

• Students:– 'I particularly liked the feedback from Jan from the Museum Trust

& Mark Hildred during the design process, as they were real industry experience comments which were really helpful.' (Emma Jones, 3rd Year Creative Music Technology and Design for Digital Media student)

– ‘The Rotunda Museum Project was so far one of the best experiences ever in my life! Never knew I could learn so much in so little time. Time spent on this project is simply invaluable! Hope to do some more similar projects in the near future.’ (Dom Perera, 3rd year Creative Music Technology student)

Feedback

• Public:

– ‘Good work from the students, it’s nice to see new + fresh ways to represent an installation’.

– ‘I enjoyed the Charmed installation very much. From a grown-up perspective, it was fun to play and press the touch screen. Technically very interesting and I am sure children will enjoy it immensely’.

Feedback

• Scarborough Museums Trust:

– The interactives can be made available to future students and cultiv8 to provoke analysis and discussion.

– The response from Hull Uni was positive and this could be an ongoing project over 3 years.

– People seemed to understand that this was a student project and responded positively.

Feedback

• Apollo Creative (quotes from on-line blog):

– ‘All four groups have done a fantastic job, producing installations that wouldn't look out of place on permanent display. Combining learning and games, each one takes a slightly different approach to present their charms'.

– ‘Judging by the standard of some of the interactives you may well be seeing their installations in museums across the world in a few years time'.

Future Directions

• Use of Skype for communication between parties and regular feedback from industry consultant and client.

• Funding application for extended project next year – Cultural Olympiad.

• Collaboration with University of York and University of Huddersfield through Apollo Creative.

Brain Awareness Blogs

• http://brainawarenessproject1.blogspot.com/

• http://brainawarenessproject2.blogspot.com/

• http://brainawarenessproject3.blogspot.com/

• http://brainawarenessproject4.blogspot.com/

• http://brainawarenessproject5.blogspot.com/

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Charmed Blogs

• http://herebedragons1.blogspot.com/

• http://herebedragons2.blogspot.com/

• http://herebedragons3.blogspot.com/

• http://herebedragons4.blogspot.com/

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Charms of the Sea Blogs

• http://charmsofthesea1.blogspot.com/

• http://charmsofthesea2.blogspot.com/

• http://charmsofthesea3.blogspot.com/

• http://charmsofthesea4.blogspot.com/

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Other Links

• http://www.rotundamuseum.co.uk/

• http://www.apollocreative.co.uk/

• http://apollocreative.blogspot.com/search/label/Charms of the Sea

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Thank you