Brookfield Zoo's "Flying Walk" Exhibit: Formative Evaluation Aids in the Development of an Interactive Exhibit in an Informal Learning Setting

Abstract

The use of formative evaluation to develop interactive exhibits can both aid the creation of a successful exhibit and be cost-effective for the institution. Priorto the final development of Brookfield Zoo's "Flying Walk" exhibit planners raised several concerns about how visitors would use the exhibit. Concerns about the exhibit related to its attracting and holding power; whether it would be used as a "jungle gym" rather than an opportunity to learn; and whether visitors would learn the concept the exhibit was designed to teach. A prototype of the exhibit was built and a four-part study conducted. A total of 527 visitors and an additional 99 groups participated in the study. The results of the study led decision makers to accept the proposed exhibit with some minor modifications as an effective means by which to communicate the concept of bird wing movement. Some of the findings include: 47% of the groups entering the Aquatic Bird House were attracted to the exhibit; groups using the exhibit or watching others use it stayed in the building significantly longer than those who did not; the majority of visitors used the exhibit in the way in which it was designed to be used although behavioral differences occur due to age; and while only 4% of the naive sample could replicate bird wing movement, 45% of the sample who used the exhibit were able to demonstrate that they learned the appropriate concept.