edam project (exploratorium digital asset management) imls grant #10028 bacteria producing color

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

• Make data exportable and compatible with international standards

• Anticipate future uses and needs

• Document what we learn

Bending Light

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: SunSparc server, NT network for internal users

• In-house know-how

Exhibit Builder

Project Requirements

Planning

• Needs assessment

• Digitization plan

• International standards

• Conceptual framework

• Back-up, storage, security, maintenance

Duck Into Kaleidoscope

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 issuesQuickTime™ and a

H.263 decompressorare needed to see this picture.

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 128K 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

EDAMwww.exploratorium.edu/educate

Double Rainbow