"NASA explores the universe" visitor kiosk upgrade "NASA explores the universe" is an interactive and fun way for 420,000 annual visitors of all ages to learn about NASA missions, the technology of…

"NASA explores the universe" visitor kiosk upgrade "NASA explores the universe" is an interactive and fun way for 420,000 annual visitors of all ages to learn about NASA missions, the technology of its exploration vehicles, and planetary science. Created by discovery science center (DSC) with grant funds from NASA under grant #NNX10AC97G, the formative evaluation proves this new exhibit has a positive impact on stem (science, technology, engineering and math) learning, impacting a diverse audience. DSC seeks grant funds under NNH11ZDA001N-epoess to improve the exhibit design to allow for more NASA missions to be featured. "NASA explores the universe" was intended as a showcase for a variety of NASA missions: in the center, a model of an exploration vehicle is on display, and the visitor is invited to learn more through three interactive kiosks, each with a different program as follows: (kiosk 1) the NASA mission; (kiosk 2) the vehicle's technological features; and (kiosk 3) the scientific data collected from the planet, star, or other under study by this NASA mission. The original intent of the exhibit was to change the model, and update the kiosks with the corresponding information about every six months or so. Also, DSC envisioned this exhibit would be the showcase for high profile models which NASA is touring for short periods of time (for example, DSC hosted the mars science laboratory for about two weeks to promote awareness and a naming contest for children). NASA is a very eager and helpful partner: through our membership in the museum alliance, they have readily agreed to loan models of space exploration vehicles, and offered a wealth of data, images, videos and more free of charge. From august 1, 2010 through february 28, 2011, DSC successfully educated the public about curiosity: mars science laboratory. However, when the time came for curiosity to move on to another museum, our team encountered a challenge. The way the software had been designed by the original exhibit fabricator did not allow DSC to replace one video with another, or replace images or update text easily. We are seeking grant support to correct this issue by hiring a software development consultant to create a more flexible program. The goals of this project are to: (1) develop a centralized kiosk system which integrates the three interactive kiosk programs. The kiosk system will allow for an unlimited number of interactive kiosk program, and not be limited to the mars rover display; (2) develop visually attractive and engaging pages which draw visitors in and entice them to explore and learn more; (3) develop an administrative page with a user-friendly interface which allows non-technical graphics and education department personnel from DSC to update images, video and text; and (4) the kiosk system will include a dashboard interface that provides real time and retrospective metrics on which kiosk programs and individual pages are most utilized. DSC can use this information to evaluate the relative success of various offerings and ways to best structure future kiosk program updates. DSC is uniquely qualified to achieve the proposed objectives. Since receiving a grant to assist with the opening of DSC to the public, we have had a history of collaborating with NASA on several successful projects, including receiving loans of models, videos and robots from nearby JPL. Through this relationship, DSC has secured a commitment from JPL to provide new models of spacecraft each year over the next decade. As new spacecraft and their missions are introduced to "NASA explores the universe," IT will achieve a number of the NASA strategic goals and research objectives specific to each mission. Overall, the exhibit and its accompanying educational programming would achieve NASA's education strategic coordination framework outcome 3, to promote stem literacy and awareness of NASA's mission, and IT would achieve IT through a susta