Visitors to Hanauma Bay often do not grasp the impacts they can have on the marine environment and are unaware of how important the environment is to their own lives and well-being. To address this issue, this project was designed and evaluated to educate visitors to Hanauma Bay about ocean literacy. The project’s instruction was centered on an interactive tool designed to engage visitors and alter their attitudes and behaviors when interacting with the ocean. Keller’s ARCS Model guided the development process and the way in which information was presented to learners. To evaluate the project, usability testing and learning assessments were conducted with the help of participants (n = 29) to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the project. Participants of the usability study critiqued the design of the tool, as well as its ease of use. The learning assessment participants were given pre- and post-tests to gauge their understanding of the project and their willingness to change their behaviors after engaging with the instruction.
The results of the learning assessment showed a change in attitude across most participants. The results suggest that even brief interactive experiences might spark people’s curiosity and help them understand the world around them. While the tool itself worked well and increased participants’ interest, some aspects of the instructional design needed improvement. In the future, updating the design may make it more palatable to a wider audience.
Tyler Lum