LVSIF Week 7 Team Blog–Partnerships

→ MAJOR PARTNERS: STEM EDUCATIONAL CENTERS & STAFF

 

• Lehigh Gap Nature Center (LGNC),  [organization]

 

1. Dr. Bodzin, our PI, has fostered this partnership and similar relationships through his previous work over the past several years.

ii.

 

• In 2018, LGNC was the first local partner for our proof of concept learning game. This was a result of long-term partnership that Dr. Bodzin has developed with LGNC. 

• Dan Kunkle & Chad Schwartz  [individual]

• Shared longitudinal research about the revegetation process that took place in the Lehigh Gap.

• Provides historic photos, and overall information regarding the institution and their audience.

• Participates in our group meetings at least once a month.

• Provide support to any students that conduct their individual research projects within our group. 

 

iii. LGNC / Lehigh Watershed Immersive Learning is a symbiotic relationship.

 

• By having their institution as the central location of an entire game narrative, we market their work to more (younger) people via the multimodal ways afforded by the immersive VR game. 

• Their institution is the focus of our next game iVR2. 

• We help increase the amount of visitors to the centers, who may consume their products, and even become donors.  

 

1. An increase in the number of visitors/income for LGNC would strengthen the partnership between us because they would perceive it as something reliable and that produces results not only for our venture (with the games), but also for their institution in terms of outreach, public recognition/relations, and indirect gains.

 

 

• Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor (D&L),

 

1. 1. 1. Martha Fox [individual]

 

• Dr. Bodzin, our PI, has fostered this partnership and similar relationships through his previous work over the past several years.

• She is an author, speaker, and advocate who shares historical expertise and provided media material for the project such as many historical photos. In turn, we increase her visibility and showcase her work as a historian and author by utilizing her materials in game. 

• Yes, this is a symbiotic relationship because both parties are getting what they need from it. We need the materials and expertise she provides while she gets free publicity and credit as part of our research.

• We could make this partnership more equitable by providing her name to specific photos and or placing it as part of development in our game credits documentation. If we give specific references to her numerous times, more people will be aware of who she is. 

 

 

1. 1. 1. Daphne Mayer [individual]

 

• Dr. Bodzin, our PI, has fostered this partnership and similar relationships through his previous work over the past several years.

• She gave us off-hours access to the Hugh Moore Canal Museum, provided numerous D&L digital trail information signs to be used in the game, and also shares insights on game design at weekly meetings. We help by providing insight into the design process for learning modules such as this game as well as creating a venue for greater public engagement for them with marketing their institution in the game. 

• Yes, this is a symbiotic relationship because we are getting access to the things and locations we need with her authority and providing her with access to the development of the game experience for her organization so she can make requests and changes throughout the entire process. 

• We could make this partnership more equitable by aiding her in promoting the gamified experience when it is complete in order to see concrete numbers of impact. The partnership will be truly beneficial for her only if we are able to make some sort of user survey that proves that our intervention truly helped to increase foot traffic or website traffic for her organization. 

 

 

 

• Nurture Nature Center (NNC)

 

1. 1. Kate Semmens [individual]

 

• Dr. Bodzin, our PI, has fostered this partnership and similar relationships through his previous work over the past several years.

• She participated in numerous virtual meetings, assisted in development of game features, and provided relevant environmental and historical expertise. We help by providing insight into the design process for learning modules such as this game because we explain our workflow during team meetings and give her demonstrations of how we might change each module to fit her specific organization.

• Yes, this is a symbiotic relationship because we are both learning from each other and receiving valuable information from differing perspectives of potential users and developers. The discussions we have allow for better design for usability and accessibility across a wide range of users. 

• This will be more equitable when we begin working together on the module for NNC because then Kate will be able to utilize the knowledge she is getting now about this type of technology and user interface design to create a customized experience for her organization. She will be able to provide input regarding the specific fields of environmental and local historical knowledge for the game too.