Integration of Mobile Technology Into Museum Education: a Discussion of the State of the Art Mark P
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Seton Hall University eRepository @ Seton Hall Theses Spring 5-2011 Integration of Mobile Technology into Museum Education: A Discussion of the State of the Art Mark P. Diemer Seton Hall University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarship.shu.edu/theses Recommended Citation Diemer, Mark P., "Integration of Mobile Technology into Museum Education: A Discussion of the State of the Art" (2011). Theses. 26. https://scholarship.shu.edu/theses/26 INTEGRATION OF MOBILE TECHNOLOGY Il INTO MUSEUM EDUCATION: A DISCUSSION 1 OF THE STATE OF THE ART i 1 I by I Mark P. Diemer I A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of I Master of Arts in Museum Professions j I I Seton Hall University May 2011 I I ! 1 i I I I Copy © Mark P. Diemer, 2011. All Rights Reserved. I No part of this document may be reproduced in any form without written permission of the author. Copyrights to images are owned by other copyright holders and should not be reproduced under any circumstances. TIlls document as shown is not for publication and was produced in satisfaction of thesis I requirements. I I I I ,! } ! l I; Seton Hall University Abstract Integration of Mobile Technology into Museum Education: A Discussion of the State of the Art by Mark P. Diemer 'lnesi" Advisor: Dr. Petra Chu Museum Professions Program Approval: This thesis is an attempt to examine the current state of mobile technology use in museum education programs. Mobile technology is fast becoming the communications and learning medium of choice. Since its inception, there has been an entire generation born into today's digital and wireless world. This project endeavors to present the latest understanding of where mobiles fit into the general culture, museum visitor experience, and particularly into museum education. We will examine literature concerning the digital generation and their mobile use tendencies, the viewpoint of museum professionals, and what the future may hold for mobile communication devices and museum education. Perspective has also been drawn from survey of museum professionals for a recent international online conference on mobile device use as well as a limited evaluation specific to this thesis. Lastly, this thesis presents a hypothetical museum education program combined with the accompanying mobile technology infrastructure. The wireless network design is based on personal experience, and the technology used is actual off-the-shelf equipment that can be purchased by any institution. At the end of the thesis is a chronology of Information Technology development and evolution. It is included as an addendum along with an accompanying glossary of technical terms as added foundational information for the non-technical reader. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The author wishes to thank my thesis advisor, Dr. Petra Chu, for keeping me on the straight and narrow. I also wish to thank all those museum educators who participated in the limited evaluation. Without them I would not have gained clear understanding of how they see the mobile communications world fast moving in their direction. They are a concerned and imaginative group ofpeople trying their best in trying times. Lastly, I would like to acknowledge my wife Carol along with all the patient people who listened to me expound, read excerpts, and generally supported my endeavor. : Integration of Mobile Technology Into Museum Education A Discussion of the State of the Art http:/ Table of Contents 1.0 Introduction ............... 11•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 1 1.1 Thesis Focus .................................................................................................................................................... 3 2.0 Background ........................................................................................................................ 9 2.1 Why Do We Need to Know This Stuff? .............................................................................................. 11 2.1.1 Context and Definition .................................................................................................................... 14 2.2 The Native, the Settler, and the lmmigrant..................................................................................... 19 3.0 Perspective .......................................................................................................................23 3.1 Driving Factors That Museums Need to Consider ....................................................................... 24 3.2 The Viewpoint: Literature Concerning Mobiles and Museums.............................................. 29 4.0 Closer Study of Mobiles and Museums ....................................................................42 4.1 And the Survey Says .................................................................................................................................. 43 4.2 A Recent Limited Evaluation ................................................................................................................. 48 4.2.1 The Methodology .............................................................................................................................. 50 4.2.2 The Quantitative Results ................................................................................................................ 53 4.2.3 The Qualitative Questionnaire and its Analysis ................................................................... 59 4.2.4 Interpretation ..................................................................................................................................... 59 5.0 Museum Programming and Technology Use .........................................................59 5.1 The Exhibit .................................................................................................................................................... 60 5.2 The Program: How to make it Museum and Educational ......................................................... 62 5.3 The Technology: Build it and They Will Come .............................................................................. 71 5.4 Digitization is a Key Element ................................................................................................................ 78 6.0 Food for Thought............................................................................................................80 6.1 Changing Times and the Digital Native ............................................................................................. 86 Appendix A - Evaluation Matrix .......................................................................................88 Appendix B - Evaluation SUr\Tey Instrument ...............................................................91 Appendix C- Evaluation Qualitative Questionnaire .................................................93 Appendix D - Museum Education Program Instructions.........................................96 Appendix E - Museum Education Program Investigator's Worksheet................98 Appendix F - Museum Education Program Investigator's Head ........................ 101 Addendum: The Technology........................................................................................... 102 What ;s This Stuff Anyway? ........................................................................................................................ 102 The Electronics ............................................................................................................................................ 103 The Computer .............................................................................................................................................. 107 The PC to the Server.................................................................................................................................. 112 The Internet.................................................................................................................................................. 123 The Mobile Device ...................................................................................................................................... 134 Digitization and Storage.......................................................................................................................... 139 This is What the Stuff Is ............................................................................................................................... 145 Glossary- of Technical Terms........................................................................................... 147 Works Cited .......................................................................................................................... 152 LIST OF TABLES & FIGURES Tables Number Page Table 4.1-1 Tenn Differentiation 46 Table 4.1-2 Comparison of Four Major Objectives 47 Table 4.2.2-1 Technology Choice and Application 52 Table 5.3-1 Equipment Requirements and Cost 76 Figures Figure 5.3-1 Wireless Network Access 75 Figure Al Vacuum Tube Technology 103 Figure A2 ENIAC c. 1947 104 Figure A3 Transistor Construction 104 Figure A4 IC Chip Construction 106 Figure A5 Portions ofENIAC at the NMAH 112 Figure A6 The MIPS ALTAIR at the NMAH 114 Figure A 7 The Apple I at the NMAH 115 Figure A8 The Apple II at the NMAH 116 Figure A9 The Commodore PET 2001 at the NMAH 116 Figure Al0 The IBM PC 5150 and the Apple Macintosh Classic 120 Figure A 11