Using touch-tables and inquiry methods to attract and engage visitors

Specialeforsvar ved Sarah Klein, IND. Forsvaret foregår på engelsk.

Vejleder: Robert Evans
Censor: Bengt Holst, Vice Director of Research and Conservation at the Copenhagen Zoo

Abstract

A new exhibit using a touch-table was designed to attract and engage zoo visitors to become a more interactive part in their learning process. The focus was on family groups and their learning ability in a social context. The touch-table was independent of a zoo educator being present for explanations, thereby making it less costly. Furthermore, visitors were moreactive participants, as they had to use more of their senses. The headlines of the information signs were questions without answer choices available to motivate and drive inquiry learning. Answers could only be found by reading the text and/or looking at the pictures in combination with using the relevant objects, thereby encouraging learning through inquiry and investigation. Related tables with information signs only were designed and likewise tested in order to measure the effect of touch-table use. An audio recorder applied in both scenarios was used to record families' interactions and evaluate the different effects of using touch-tables. Two hundred fifty family interactions and interviews at two zoos were analyzed to examine the effects using touch-tables. It was found that more visitors stopped, time spent and learning behaviors were greater at the touch-tables compared to tables with information signs only.