International Spy Museum
Without doubt, the International Spy Museum in Washington D.C. is a superior museum experience. Space and technology are used in purposeful ways to create an impressive learning experience. The museum profiles both the world of spies and the history of spying.
Spy School
The former is organized as an interactive game in which technology is irreplaceable. At the start of their experience, museum goers enter a room in which they select a “cover” including a phony name, age, occupation and travel details. At various points in their journey through the museum, participants pass through checkpoints where computers quiz them regarding their identity. Failure to answer all questions correctly results in varying degrees of deportation threats. Part of the training in spy-craft – including tasks like identifying ideal drop-points for sensitive information – comes via multimedia displays and assessments. Various points of the journey are punctuated by videos highlighting key spy skills like picking locks and surveillance techniques. Without the integration of technology, this engaging game experience would be impossible.
Dan GilbertNice example here of how building an identity in a museum can increase learning. I think one area you could call out even more explicitly is the role that motivation plays here. It must be pretty exciting to pretned to be a spy in Washington DC, that would create a high level of engagement for many visitors.
History of Spying
The History of Spying exhibitions are also heavily dependent on multimedia technologies. Because a spy’s objective is to covertly transfer information, much of the story of spying is intangible. User activated videos provide glimpses into the pivotal moments in spying history including scandals at the CIA, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and WWII’s D Day. Without the documentary footage woven among the representative artifacts, the experience would be lacking. All information is presented chronologically, each era carefully constructed in sets of consecutive rooms with props and scenery that reflect the times. Additionally, several programs have been designed for teachers to highlight various aspects of the history of spying...
The International Spy Museum is an example of the evolving nature of the museum experience. Technology is a means, and not an end unto itself and therefore creates a more meaningful experience for the visitor.
Dan Gilbert Nice summation here, sounds like that the staff at Spy Museum are really focused on the visitor's experience and less so with the stuff that they have on disaply. I wonder how designers of spaces like these make decisions about visitors' experience and goals fo protecting stuff (curatorial duties).
Rxn to Dan's post Hmm - I didn't really think of this previously - no doubt striking the balance between access to and protection of artifacts is extremely difficult. For the International Spy Museum, anything that seemed like a legitimate artifact (e.g. the hollow dog poop for message transfer) was kept under glass. Other 'hands on' exhibits utilized touch screens and multi-media displays.
Sara Adelmann Greg, you really convinced me that I must go to this museum at some point...it sounds like a lot of fun and it sounds like it gives you a lot of information as well. I wonder if researchers would find similar results as the paper we read on how parents interact differently with boys and girls at science museums. I also wonder if in general more parents would bring a boy than a girl to a spy museum. It sounds fairly interactive from your description so I am wondering how old a child would have to be to fully participate in this experience. Are there activities there for children of younger ages? Also, I wonder if interactive museums like this one are appreciated more in groups than alone so that you can discuss your secret identity with your companions during or after the experience.
Rxn to Sara's post I think you're probably right - because the profession is predominsntly male, parents may have a built in gender bias that influences their responses to their children's queries. Additionally, during the "golden era" of spying, women used sex appeal to access information whereas men used their wits and took considerable machismo laden risks. I wonder how parents introduce this fact to their children.