case study: a facelift for destiny

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Case study

A Facelift for DESTINYClient: DESTINY Traveling Science Learning ProgramDate: 2006


Case study: a faCelift for destiny


DESTINY’s main objective:Increase interest in science among high school students

Mobile laboratories make it possible for students to do hands-on experiments that otherwise would be too expensive for the schools

Make science learning fun and hands-on (e.g.: teach DNA with CSI-style lab activity)



My main responsibility:Revamp the program’s modules, which were mostly dull and gray



Moved the modules from Word to InDesign, opening up design possibilities



• Lab activity instructions not really part of the modules• No consistent look or branding throughout the content• Over-reliance on individuals’ memories rather than

documenting lab procedures



• Worked with curriculum writers to organize the content to make all components official parts of the modules

• Developed new template and enforced consistent appearance across all content



Addressing image copyright issues• Compiled large list of sources for free or public-domain

photos to use in the modules• Contacted copyright holders for images currently used in

the modules to get their permission



Made modules more visually appealing

• Better layout and template• Created a large number of graphics and illustrations



Results

• Revamped 9 modules and created 3 new ones in 7 months

• Well-received by the staff and the teachers at the schools our educators visited

• In 2006-07, DESTINY visited 158 schools in N.C., served 7,114 students, and trained 268 teachers

• Partnership deal with Bio-Rad to distribute the modules on the company’s Web site

• Continued to do contract projects for DESTINY even after I left the program



http://www.john-zhu.com/portfolio/educational

http://www.john-zhu.com/portfolio/educational