Developing a Sustainable System for Defining and Measuring Museum Success

In this IMLS grant, ILI is assisting the Computer History Museum (CHM) is offering professional learning to enable CHM to better design museum programs and improve outcomes by developing a robust institution-wide evaluation framework that integrates impact, assessment, and learning strategies. The goal is to develop a museum-wide evaluation rubric, metrics, and dashboard that measure both marketing outcomes and pedagogical impact. This project will measure three core CHM activities that are thematically integrated: programming, exhibits, and digital content. These audience offerings will straddle three format types:  physical and onsite; digital and virtual; and hybrid. The new evaluation framework has resulted in cross-departmental evaluation strategy integration while building staff capacity on evaluation tools, techniques, and strategies. The project will also develop a holistic dashboard by integrating current museum-wide evaluation and digital marketing tools with easy access to data/reports that can be shared internally for museum-wide decision-making and externally with funders, stakeholders, and legislators.

Project Team: Monae Verbeke Ph.D., Judy Koke, Nicole Claudio