Prompt Questions for a Museum Observation Visit¶
The following prompts are drawn from the guide “Playtesting Tips For Children’S Museum Of Pittsburgh” provided by Rebecca Grabman.
General Observational Tips: What Do Visitors Do?¶
What is the first thing a visitor does upon entering/seeing the space/project?
What do you WANT them to do?
Do they read signs? Do they ask for help? Do they do things without thinking?
What do they gravitate towards first/last/never?
How do behaviors change based on staff or other visitors in the space? How would this be different at home, in a classroom?
How do adult visitors treat the kids they’re with?
What kind of language do they use?
What assumptions do they make about their children interacting?
What different relationships are there? (Parent/Child, Grandparent/Child, Parent/Other Person’s Kid…)
How do visitors finish engaging?
Are they enjoying themselves? How do you know?
General Observational Tips: Demographics, Etc¶
How old are the visitors?
How many are in each group? How many adults, kids?
How are members of the groups related or connected to each other?
Do the visitors engage differently based on age? Based on family size?
What seems to draw older children? Younger children?
Are the elements that are attractive also appropriate (developmentally, content-wise)?
How much time do visitors spend? Older visitors? Younger?
Are children engaging alone? With a parent? Facilitator? Sibling? Stranger?
Observational Tips: Setup Of The Room¶
What are things made out of?
What is the aesthetic of the space?
How is the room divided? If you’ve visited before, is it different?
What does the flow of people look like?
Which exhibit pieces are fixed in place? Which can be moved around?
Where are the electrical outlets?
What is the lighting like?
What items are accessible to visitors? In what way? How are different things displayed differently?
What is the difference between a busy day vs. slow day?
Observational Tips: What Makes Up An Exhibit Component?¶
How big is it? How many pieces does it contain?
What color is it?
What material is it made out of?
How complicated is it?
How often does it break? How easy is it to fix?
Does it require electricity? Does it need to be turned on and off?
What happens if it is knocked over? What if you stand on top of it?
How high up is it? How low is it to the ground? At what height are the interactive pieces?
What age group is it targeted towards?
How can other age groups engage with it?
Can it be added to or changed?
What parts show the most wear?
How many iterations has it gone through? What changed? What still needs to change?
Facilitation Observational Tips: Interactions¶
Listen to the word choices the facilitators are making. What do you notice?
What differences do you notice between facilitators? Find out what their role is and how long they’ve worked in MAKESHOP. Do you think that impacts their interactions? How?
How do staff greet / introduce people to the space?
Watch an extended engagement. When is the child expressing interest, intention or curiosity? How does the facilitator respond?
What tools, materials, or processes does the facilitator choose to highlight or use? Does this change depending on the person they are interacting with?
Talk to a Teaching Artist or Educator who has worked in the space more than 6 months or so. Ask about their interactions with the public – what do they value? what frustrates them? how do they know whether an interaction has gone well or poorly?
Talk to a Teaching Artist or Educator who has worked in the space less than 6 months or so. How has their perception of making or making with children shifted in that time?
Prompt Questions for a Museum Playtesting Visit¶
The following prompts are drawn from the guide “Playtesting Tips For Children’S Museum Of Pittsburgh” provided by Rebecca Grabman.
General: Tips For Playtesting With Young Audiences / At The Museum¶
Know Your Audience
On your first visit, plan to spend time observing children and adults interacting, especially if you do not have much experience with this demographic.
Test Early, Test Often
The informal museum environment is perfect for getting quick interactions and feedback. Test paper prototypes and unfinished ideas, or several versions in one day, to get a sense of what works and what doesn’t.
How to Get the Feedback You Want
Observe closely!! Don’t expect lengthy feedback from kids. Target them with specific questions that seem important. What was the coolest part? Do you think other kids will find this fun? Etc. Don’t forget that staff and parents may also have ideas or tips about how to make things more approachable or kid-friendly.
Limitations of Museum Playtesting
The museum is typically NOT a good place to test a long, drawn-out experience that requires a lot of set-up. Most visitors are here for a fun, casual experience and do not want to wait or be tied down to an hour-long commitment that requires filling out forms.
Don’t Scare Them Away
We recommend no more than 3 people in the playtest area at one time. Too many adults just observing and taking notes can be scary or off-putting for kids! Playtesters who are not actively involved should explore the museum, or find somewhere out of the way to wait (cafe, outside, etc). You are expected to present yourselves appropriately and professionally at all times, which includes being courteous to guests and employees.