Testing Results

This is a link to view my testing results on Google Docs. 

Log Entry 5/23/14

I finished and posted my Progress Poster in the beginning of the week. This week, we are focusing on printing and mounting the posters in preparation of the Fine Balmy Night presentations. This class, I am printing my testing surveys in order to conduct my testing this afternoon with a group of sophomore students in the Lighthouse Keeper's Quarters.

Final Progress Poster

Testing Survey

This is a link to my survey on Google Docs. 

Log Entry 5/19/2014

On Thursday of last week, the DFR class of this year and next year took a trip to Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania. On Friday, a few more plants were collected and are currently drying in the plant press. Today, I completed my testing. After meeting with Alfonse, I revised and changed some of the questions. I plan to administer the survey to visitors of the Lighthouse Keeper's Quarters or the Park Rangers that work there. I also completed most of my poster today. The only thing left to do is add pictures. Because the USB adapter was not in class today, I need to wait until tomorrow.

Testing

Originally, when choosing a design for our Riker boxes, we focused on a variety of criteria. The solutions were judged based on usability, aesthetics, maneuverability, accuracy, accessibility and whether or not it was informative.

The Plant Pressing Department's final product is the collection of finished Riker boxes. Each finished Riker boxes includes a specimen that is pressed, mounted and sealed with silica packets. The box includes three labels: two on the front and one on the back. The front labels includes Common Name, Scientific Name, Date Collected, Location Zone and the MAST Class who collected the specimen. The back label includes the Size, General Characteristics and Interesting Facts about the plant, along with a picture and a QR code linking to the website. The quality of our finished product is evaluated by how well it satisfies these questions:


Is the label accessible to the average viewer?

• Are the facts understandable by an average person?
• Are the facts cohesive and relevant?
• Is the font large enough and readable?

Is the label factual?

• Is the picture an accurate representation of the specimen?
• Is it picture clear and easy to see?
• Are all the characteristics true and correct?
• Does the color code of the label correspond with the zone?
• Are there any mechanical or spelling errors?
• Is the Riker box an effective representation of the plant?

Is the plant specimen accurate?

• Is the specimen sufficient representation of the species?
• Are the size, color and special features (such as flowers, buds and burrs) all similar to the characteristics of the plant in the wild? 
• Is the specimen accessible online through the QR code?
• Is the Riker box clean and free of debris?
• Is it Riker box in a condition suitable for being handled by the public?

I created a survey in Google Docs. The survey would be administered along with a a Riker box in order to determine the quality of the finished product. The person answering the survey would refer to the given specimen in order to answer the questions. 

Log Entry 5/13/2014

Yesterday was a field collection day. We went to the bike path and collected plants from behind the building. We found tall purple flowers, small yellow flowers, and what we believe to be Lamb's Ear. Those plants are currently in the plant press and will be there for the next few weeks. We took many pictures in the field. Today I plan to continue working on my survey for testing.

Lighthouse Display Pictures

This week, members of the Sandy Hook Interactive Herbarium set up ax exhibit in the Lightkeepers' Quarters at the Sandy Hook Lighthouse for visitors of the hook.

Fort Hancock Ranger with our Sandy Hook Interactive Herbarium
 Display in the Sandy Hook Lightkeepers' Quarters

Our display includes an iPad slideshow of field pictures
and photos of the place pressing process,
a Riker box display including seven specimen, two
artistic renderings our vegetative zone key,
and our informative poster. 

Log Entry 5/8/2014

Today, we went back down to the lighthouse for the third time to add labels to the Riker box display. We added two signs that say "Handle With Care" and "Use your smartphones to scan QR codes on the back of Riker boxes." We wanted to make sure the public knew they could touch the Riker boxes to read them. We have given quick tutorials to a few of the rangers present in the lighthouse keepers' quarters when we visit. We plan to switch out plants in the display periodically. We plan to add a large sign that reads "The Sandy Hook Interactive Herbarium" above our display in the corner of the lighthouse keepers' quarters.

Log Entry 5/6/2014

Today, the Herbarium will be going down to the Lighthouse to set up our Interactive Herbarium display. All of last week and yesterday was dedicated to preparing our display to best represent the work we have completed this year. Our display includes our bookcase with the Label Key, Artistic Renderings and Specimens, an informative poster and our IPad slideshow.

Log Entry 5/1/2014

Yesterday, the DFR class took a trip to the Statue of Liberty and Stevens Institute of Technology for their project expo. Today, I plan to finish up everything that needs to be done for the Lighthouse event on Tuesday.