Examples of Work Prospect Park Audubon Center The Prospect Park Audubon Center (PPAC), the first urban Audubon Center, provides programs to introduce the people of Brooklyn to the birds and habitats of Prospect Park. In the summer of 2003, the PPAC met with Alder Consulting to discuss ways to provide more value to their visitors through technology. The PPAC was using a number of computer activities, but were concerned that they weren't well integrated into the PPAC's overall programs and mission. Alder Consulting helped them to define a five-year Technology Plan. This plan sets out a realistic road map for the creation of several cutting edge educational technology systems. It ensures that each of the PPAC's technology projects build on each other, and that each provide real value to visitors. The steps we took to define the Technology Plan are explained below. Project Startup As with every Alder project, we started by defining a project plan. We designed a process that included four workshops and several meetings over the course of about two months. We put together a small team to make key decisions and a larger extended team that would participate in the workshops. Defining Goals In our first team workshop, we brainstormed the goals for each PPAC audience. By discussing the priority of each goal and the extent to which it was currently addressed, we then identified those that could most benefit from additional attention. These goals provided the basis for the rest of the planning process. We work from defined goals on every Alder project, ensuring that each technology supports true organizational needs. Brainstorming Projects In our second workshop, we brainstormed technology projects to address the identified goals. By including both technical and non-technical people in the workshop and encouraging wide-ranging ideas, we created a long list of possibilities. Using this list as a starting point, Alder then designed a set of feasible projects. For instance, we combined ideas about kids capturing and analyzing environmental data into the definition of an internet system that would allow easy data collection and graphing. Some of the projects that we defined included: A system which will allow school groups and visitors to easily collect and graph scientific data, and then print out their analysis for them to keep A system that allows non-technical PPAC staff to create new computer activities for each exhibit Internet based quizzes that will provide both a pre-visit activity for classes and a method of measuring effectiveness for the PPAC A kiosk and internet based tool that will allow visitors to plan their activities in Prospect Park, while reminding them of ways that they can make a difference in the Park Through the last two workshops, we discussed each project and selected those that showed the most promise. We then brainstormed a feature list for each selected project. Creating the Plan At the end of the series of workshops, we had an ambitious set of projects with a high-level feature list for each. Alder used the list to estimate the cost needed to develop each project. We broke large projects up into achievable phases, and worked with the decision makers to define timeframes for each phase. Finally, Alder created a summary document to describe each project and the costs and schedule for achieving it. A small portion of the spreadsheet used to estimate the projects is shown to the right. Technology to Support Everyday Work The PPAC relies on the Prospect Park Alliance to provide support for the technology infrastructure - hardware, software, networks, and processes - that supports day-to-day office work. As this support was quite robust, and not included in the PPAC's budget, our Technology Plan did not focus on these areas. A typical technology planning process, however, would include a technology inventory and a process analysis to find opportunities to make everyday work more efficient. The Outcome The Technology Plan has crystallized the Prospect Park Audubon Center's thoughts about technology, and aided in their overall strategic planning process. The Plan allows the funding and creation of a number of cutting edge educational technologies that will transform the PPAC's programs. Glenn Phillips, Executive Director of the PPAC, says, "It has been a real treat working with Alder. The Technology Plan has really helped us focus on our critical needs."