Project Overview
The Institute has a wide variety of exhibits featuring live and preserved specimens of insects from around the globe. The educational exhibits provide insight into the unique characteristics and behaviors of insects. Visitors can learn about the important role that insects play in our ecosystem and how humans have interacted with and studied insects throughout history. In addition to permanent exhibits, the Institute hosts special events and educational programs for people of all ages.
Details
Client: Luncester Insect Institute*
Target Audience: Volunteers
Role: Instructional Designer, eLearning Developer, Graphic Designer, UI Designer
Tools: Adobe XD, Storyline 360, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop
Deliverable: Volunteer Learning Series Micro-learning courses
Challenge
Goal: How might we help volunteers feel more connected and provide development when exhibits are closed?
During COVID, when the institute had to close, they were concerned that they might lose volunteers. It sparked a larger discussion of how to engage and train volunteers between exhibits or during times the location needed to be closed for updates or repairs. They wanted their volunteers to have access to information to prepare them for when they could resume their institute guide positions.
Solution
The solution was to create a Volunteer Learning Series that would be ongoing, and new courses and information would be added when there was a new exhibit to prepare volunteers in advance of its opening. The Bee Habitat is the first in the series.
The Institute does have an LMS system for hosting eLearning courses and tracking completion. However, this project was designed to allow for flexibility should the Institute prefer a more informal presentation through a website versus formal eLearning courses. Because the project was designed in Adobe XD the components can easily be adapted to build a website instead of eLearning modules. The project could also be scaled to include 360 images and VR to provide volunteers with the experience of touring an exhibit offsite. The micro-learning courses are created to give volunteers a chance to become familiar with the exhibit content and what questions they could anticipate from visitors.
Process
I gathered information about the target audience and the insect museum in the analysis phase. Analysis revealed that most volunteers preferred a method they could access easily at home via a mobile device. Design decisions were made based on a mobile format but can be adapted to create a website or VR experience instead.
I created a detailed plan for the eLearning series, working with subject matter experts, including the structure, layout, and visual design. After learning about the exhibit and what volunteers need to know to guide visitors, the microlearning was designed to include an exploration activity, a FAQ page, and a short tour. I created mockups in Adobe XD to test the interactions and finalize the visual design before creating the course.
*Note: Organization name and select content have been changed to protect proprietary information. The video shown is a sample of the finished project.