MCN 2026

More than a decade ago, Research Quest was recognized at NMC as a “Best of Show” prototype—an ambitious digital learning experience designed to connect students with real museum collections and scientific data. Ten years later, it has been developed into 15 distinct learning modules in use today by hundreds of educators and thousands of learners across the United States. What does it take for a digital experience not just to launch successfully, but to endure—and continue to earn trust over time?

This session offers a longitudinal case study of Research Quest’s evolution, examining the design decisions, trade-offs, and core commitments that allowed the platform to adapt across shifting technologies, audiences, and expectations without losing its integrity. As digital ecosystems accelerate and trust in information sources becomes increasingly fragile, designing for longevity requires more than innovation—it demands clarity about what should remain constant.

Drawing on close collaboration between the fields of design and the learning sciences, we will explore how foundational principles—such as centering authentic contexts, supporting inquiry-based engagement, and making scientific processes visible—have shaped both user experience and long-term credibility of the content. We will share examples of how scaffolding was refined over time to better support learners exercise data agency as they interprete complex data, understand uncertainty, and engage in evidence-based reasoning – supporting how to think not what to think.

Participants will examine what changed (platforms, interfaces, distribution models) and what did not (commitments to authenticity, learner agency, and scientific integrity), and consider how these decisions contributed to sustained use and trust. The session will also surface tensions between innovation and stability, and the realities of maintaining and evolving a digital product within institutional constraints.

As museums and cultural organizations navigate rapidly changing technological landscapes—including AI-generated content and shifting expectations around authority—this session offers a grounded perspective on designing systems that endure. Participants will leave with practical frameworks for building digital experiences that can evolve over time while maintaining credibility, relevance, and trust.