Contextual Model of Learning

I feel that all eight key factors that influence learning in the Contextual Model of Learning apply to evaluation at MOXI and are observable and/or inferable when interacting with guests in the space. 

MOXI creates an environment where guests are able control their own learning based on motivation and expectations. MOXI does not force specific learning agendas and creates a space that promotes collaborative and free-choice learning. As a spark, you often observe guests that will be drawn to a specific exhibit based on knowledge and interests. When I do the magnetics program cart, I often have guests share their knowledge of magnets with me and talk about magnets that they have at home. Sparks also have the ability to facilitate visitor learning and create a feeling of security for guests. Design has an influence on cognitive overload which can be minimized through sparking, designing exhibits that invite a certain kind of use, layout, and orientation. These can be inferred based on how guests are behaving at MOXI and their interactions with people and the space. Talking and interacting with guests often leads to evaluation in many of these eight key factors that influence learning. 

I had a wonderful experience with two older guests the other day. Our interaction started when they were playing mind ball and were asking questions about how it worked. One of the guests was very frustrated on the lack of signage in the museum. I spend quite a bit of time with them at mind ball as they learned more and more about the exhibit and began to perform different tests with the exhibit. After a while, I continued to move with them over to hang-time and walk leap jump. They were extremely engaged and spent a significant amount of time at the exhibits. As I spent time with them, I continued to challenge them and ask them questions. After I spent about 30-45 minutes moving around to different exhibits with them, I stepped back and watched if there interactions with the exhibits changed. Afterwards, I could observe the guests feeling much more comfortable in the space and engaging with the space differently. They were challenging each other, collaborating, had a reduction in cognitive overload, and were motivated to learn. 

Because MOXI creates an environment where visitors are encouraged to engage in the engineering design process, it would be difficult to interview guests and ask them what they learned however I think that I think that this can be done by observing guests move through the space and seeing how they interact and if their interactions change. I have even these eight key factors in guests at one exhibit.