Abstract:

The project Monday of science at the Alfredo Duges Museum of Natural History of the University of Guanajuato is aimed to reinforce the knowledge of natural sciences taught in the curriculum of elementary and high school level. In conjunction with the Academic Body Design and Culture, a multimedia project of divulgation from a selection of submitted talks, is carried out by researchers from different universities in this program, oriented to promote the implementation of new technologies in education and to contribute to the connection of science with society. This project has been supported in the Institutional Call of the University of Guanajuato 2010, and consists of the following phases: a) compilation of the material, b) analysis of results, c) structure of multimedia materials, d) measurement of the impact of the multimedia project by a download counter (and exit survey), and e) development of marketing strategies for the Museum of Natural History Alfredo Dugés.

Phase three, which consists of multimedia design, is currently underway. The complexity of multimedia design is that the priority on it is the scientific information, so sound, movement and image are side elements that have the function of the visual impact and keep the attention of the receiver.

The design methodology was implemented integrating different methods such as hermeneutic, semiotics, and the structuralism, allowing a holistic approach based in the user. The traditional way of designing in printed supports differs from virtual support: sound synchronization and movement should be consistent with the information. The designer has therefore taken care that the scientific work of the researcher is not altered with the visual images, caused sometimes by the significance or polysemy of the same. The representation of the environment is another factor to consider: the staging therefore part of the content affecting the color, textures and effects of light and shade.

On the other hand, having as base the constructivist vision in learning, we must integrate into the main interface activities to promote the memory, discrimination, creativity, attention and spatial structure. Another issue that must be solved within this phase is the policy of use for the software. The need to patent this prototype and protect its content, through research about the permitted rights to fulfill this purpose. However, the legislation about this issue has hindered the step to the next phase.

Keywords:

Design, multimedia, research.