What It Is Bone Hunters is an immersive, hands-on exhibit that recreates the excitement of paleontology through interactive discovery and tangible artifacts. This play-based learning adventure engages young visitors in the thrill of excavation, fossil identification, and preparation, making science accessible and engaging through storytelling and active participation. Value to Users: Hands-On Learning At the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, young visitors can step into the shoes of a paleontologist for a day. The experience begins at the fossil discovery station, where they dig for bones buried beneath the surface. Next, they bring history to life at the preparation station by identifying their fossil, learning fun facts, and contributing to its preservation. Through these interactive steps, children develop a deeper understanding of paleontology and the scientific process. Value to the Museum: Enhancing Engagement Bone Hunters extends the museum's educational reach by transforming passive observation into active participation. By incorporating multi-modal interactions—tactile exploration, digital engagement, and narrative storytelling—the exhibit fosters curiosity, encourages return visits, and strengthens visitor connections to the museum’s collection and research. This experience enriches the museum’s learning ecosystem, inspiring young minds to explore science beyond the exhibit. Experience Breakdown The Bone Hunters exhibit consists of three key phases that guide children through a journey of discovery, learning, and reflection: 1. Fossil Discovery: Unearthing the Past - Children begin their adventure at an interactive dig site, where they uncover hidden fossil replicas using excavation tools. - This hands-on activity mimics real paleontological fieldwork, fostering curiosity and excitement. 2. Fossil Identification & Preparation: Releasing and Reuniting the Dinosaur - At the Bone Identification Station, children bring their discovered fossil to be scanned and identified. - They learn about their fossil through three layered interactions - beginning with a skeletal view of the animal the bone belongs to, followed by its appearance and sounds, and finally, its diet. - Next, they prepare their fossil for display by engaging in three hands-on fossil preparation tasks, reinforcing the scientific process of preparing fossils for transportation. - Completing this step prompts the message: 'You helped your dinosaur reunite with its friends! Let’s go visit them!' 3. Exhibition Connection: Completing the Journey - Each child receives a personalized dinosaur puzzle with a missing piece, encouraging them to visit the real fossil exhibit. - Finding the missing piece at the exhibit and placing it correctly triggers a dinosaur sound and a fun fact, reinforcing learning through discovery. - By combining excavation, storytelling, and digital engagement, Bone Hunters transforms learning into an adventure, making museum visits more interactive and memorable. Our process 1. Problem Scoping The Bone Hunters Quarry, located in the Mammals exhibit, is a high-traffic area where children pretend-play by digging for bones. This presents a key opportunity for enhanced learning engagement. 2. Research Findings - Primary research revealed several challenges: - Visitors focus solely on digging, missing broader exhibit context - Limited understanding of paleontology beyond "digging for bones" - Poor interaction with exhibit information due to reading limitations - Risk of fossil weathering from proximity to play area Expert consultation and observations confirmed that while play-based learning is vital for developing sensory skills, the current experience needs refinement. ‘Play’ involves narrative creation and role-playing, with environment as a crucial factor. 3. Concept Development Our reimagined design embraces play as a learning tool through three key principles: - Guided progression with subtle prompts - Flexible use requiring minimal instruction - Physical-digital integration for learning reinforcement The resulting design features three artifacts that function both independently and as a set, embracing the principles of free play while enhancing educational value. Project Reflection Designing Bone Hunters was an opportunity to rethink how young visitors engage with museum exhibits. By integrating tangible interaction, storytelling, and hands-on exploration, we created an experience that bridges play with scientific discovery. The biggest challenge was ensuring that the exhibit not only entertained but also provided meaningful learning opportunities. Through iterative design and user testing, we refined an experience that encourages curiosity, discovery, and active participation. One of the most rewarding aspects was the narrative-driven journey that extends beyond the excavation pit. Encouraging children to seek out their missing puzzle piece within the museums’ exhibits reinforced a sense of accomplishment and connection to the museum’s collection. The integration of physical and digital interactions ensured accessibility for a wide range of learning styles, making the exhibit engaging for all visitors. Bone Hunters transforms museum learning into an immersive, interactive adventure, inspiring the next generation of explorers and fostering a lasting appreciation for the natural world.