Authentic Inquiry With Digitized Museum Objects

Dr. Kirsten Butcher is Associate Professor of Instructional Design and Educational Technology at the University of Utah. Her research examines learning processes and outcomes in digital learning environments, particularly as resulting from interactive features and visual materials. Dr. Butcher teaches courses in technology integration for pre-service teachers as well as graduate courses in advanced instructional design, human-computer interaction, multimedia learning, and technology-based training/communication. Dr. Butcher speaks regularly at national and international conferences on learning technology, online instruction, learning/cognitive science, and instructional design.

Madlyn Larson is the Director of Education Initiatives at the Natural History Museum of Utah. Her work explores the ways in which informal institutions—particularly museums—can support K-12 teachers and students using authentic science experiences and technology-enabled instruction. Her current project, www.researchquest.org, supports middle school teachers and their students.

Matthew Orr is a Ph.D. student in the Learning and Cognition Program at the University of Utah. His research interests lie in understanding the impact of multimedia learning materials on student understanding. Matthew's research has been focused on understanding differences in how students interact with tangible and digital 3D representations of museum objects and how differences in those interactions may lead to different cognitive processes during learning.