Beth's Blog: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media

JULY 1, 2009

I know this sounds strange coming from someone writing an admittedly self-expressive blog post, but hear me out. When I talk about designing participatory experiences, I often show the above graphic from Forrester Research. Museums see open-ended self-expression as the be-all of participatory experiences.

Participatory 50

Participatory Experiment Museum Teen 50

Museum 2.0

MARCH 16, 2009

I know this sounds strange coming from someone writing an admittedly self-expressive blog post, but hear me out. When I talk about designing participatory experiences, I often show the above graphic from Forrester Research. Museums see open-ended self-expression as the be-all of participatory experiences.

Participatory 44

Participatory Experiment Museum Teen 44

Museum 2.0

MARCH 27, 2009

This blog post is a love letter to an exhibit, written in patchouli ink across the back of an old Janis Joplin record. All of the instructions are handwritten on paper or cardboard. I saw teens and adults who sat and did this activity for 45 minutes and wasn’t surprised to hear that some people spend over an hour on it.

Denver 21

Denver Museum Arts Remix 21

Museum 2.0

AUGUST 7, 2008

It means seeking out people in their "natural habitat" of the social Web and paying attention to what they are blogging, writing, and saying about your institution. The majority of blog traffic mentioning the Exploratorium in the last month has focused on their coverage of the eclipse and a variety of Second Life initiatives.

Museum 20

Museum Teen Second Life Discussion 20

Museum 2.0

AUGUST 18, 2008

Librarian Aaron Schmidt tells the great story of a game night of Dance, Dance, Revolution at his library in which a teen asked him: “Hey Aaron, can I go upstairs to grab a magazine and book to read?” Talk to the folks at Instructables. Projects participatory museum. Are you a quilting or textile museum looking for fresh blood?

Museum 22

Museum Hosting Model Community 22