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