Byrnes Health Education is a leading resource for innovative, high-quality effective health education. Its mission is to educate and inspire people of all ages to make healthy choices.
For almost 30 years, the Byrnes Health Education Center has provided live and virtual classes for children of all ages to learn as if they were in class. Recognizing that children are familiar with digital technology, the Center team makes audiovisual (AV) technology a key element of their education programs. Children use interactive exhibits and gaming to explore the various body systems such as the circulatory, respiratory, digestive systems and more in a fun, exciting way.
The Center is divided into six ‘theaters’ and a STEM lab that use AV technology throughout to encourage hands-on interactivity and participation. Byrnes' educators use these spaces to teach children about a variety of health topics mapped to US and Canada educational standards.
The Byrnes Education Center team needed expert support to widen the educational experience, maximize the use of technology and create an engaging, interactive, inclusive environment for learning.
The Center wanted to engage a partner that was experienced in creating engaging, interactive experiences with an educational focus. They needed a partner that understands how to design and build AV solutions that are easy to use for the demands of a young audience The AV solution also had to be highly robust and reliable to ensure that it was always available.
The goal was to create a series of fun, exciting spaces in the theaters so that each lesson was engaging. The theaters had to feature a variety of traditional and digital educational activities to teach students about wide-ranging topics such as genetics, puberty, hygiene, emotional health and more. That meant the functionality of the installations had to align with the Center’s educational goals.
Electrosonic worked as part of a wider project team, including Trivium Interactive, Janiga Design, Natalie Zanecchia Design, Universal Services Associates and Hadley Exhibits, as well as multiple technology partners, including Barco, Holoplot, DetaiLED, Nanolumens, Pixera, Q-SYS, Smart Monkeys and Available Light.
This required effective collaboration and communication with all parties to ensure a seamless consistent approach throughout the project.
Our Technology Design Consulting team took responsibility for blue sky concepts, Technology Master Planning™, audiovisual design, ICT and control system design in collaboration with educators, interactive specialists, content designers and technology partners.
At the Build and System Integration stage, we provided comprehensive engineering, integration, testing and project management services, working closely with fabricators, exhibit firms and specialist contractors. To maintain the solution in peak condition, Electronic provide a range of Managed Services, including proactive maintenance, remote monitoring, help desk and training.
Byrnes Health Education Center now has an engaging, interactive learning facility that meets its mission of providing health education for all.
The Center has the facilities to welcome visiting schools and provide highly participative active learning on site. The Center also has the ability to recreate the learning environment in a virtual space.
Educators no longer have to rely on passive lectures or static exhibits. They can involve children in active learning that is suitable for an age group that is familiar with technology. A school supervisor commented that lessons “encourage student participation and are stimulating and engaging”.
The audiovisual technology in the theaters enables tutors to easily change or update content to meet the requirements of different learning programs or age groups.
In recognition of its educational achievements, the Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration (CILC) awarded Byrnes Health Education Center the prestigious Pinnacle Award.
Client:
Byrnes Health Education Center
Location:
York, Pennsylvania
Size:
9000 square feet
Project partners:
Hadley Exhibits, Janiga Design, Natalie Zanecchia Design, Trivium Interactive, Universal Services Associates.
Technology partners:
Available Light. Barco, DetaiLED, Holoplot, Nanolumens, Pixera, Q-SYS, Smart Monkeys.
Awards:
Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration (CILC) Pinnacle Award
Services:
BEGINNING THE JOURNEY
The Byrnes Health Education Center is designed as a series of stand-alone ‘theaters’ and a STEM Lab. Tutors use audiovisual and interactive technologies to teach specific healthcare topics from a series of programs for different age groups.
Schools or other groups book their session in advance. When visitors arrive, they enter through a lounge where they encounter a large LCD panel that displays the Byrnes Health Education logo and heart. Visitors first register at reception and listen to a brief introduction before moving to one or more theaters for their lessons.
A common feature of all theaters is the ‘Body Monitor’. Instructors use this large, touch-enabled exhibit as a teaching tool, which then becomes a beacon for engagement and fun as children interact with the content.
EXPLORING NUTRITION AND FITNESS
The ‘Body Monitor in this theater introduces the concept of fitness with a large touch-enabled exhibit that illustrates the human muscle structure.
To demonstrate those muscles in action, children watch images of fitness activities projected onto the ‘Fitness Wheel’ while tutors encourage them to copy the activities.
Children explore the ‘Heart Pump’, a model of the human heart with two interactive touchscreens that demonstrate the effect of exercise on the heart.
To explain the importance of nutrition for fitness and health, the ‘Fuel for the Day’ exhibit features a fridge with an opening door that reveals an interactive touch screen displaying healthy food choices.
All theaters feature ceiling-mounted audio, monitors for PowerPoint presentations and a video conference monitor for students viewing lessons remotely.
SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION
This theater educates children on the problems and risks of substance abuse and how they can deal with the offer of harmful substances.
Here, the ‘Body Monitor’ displays a ‘Mind Controller’ with touch functionality that enables children to explore the effects of substance abuse. As children select a substance to explore, a series of color-coded images on the ‘controller’ light up to show the level of risk.
The ‘Brain Impacts Explorer’ gives children a more detailed picture of the risks. A 3D brain sculpture with projection-mapped images demonstrates the impact of substances on the brain.
‘Under pressure’ is an interactive display that guides children through the reasons for avoiding substances and explains how to refuse offers of different harmful substances.
HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
This theater introduces the importance of hygiene to growing children as part of their development. The touch-enabled ‘Body Monitor’ greets children with a friendly ‘Good morning’, while audio, video and interactivity help them explore the importance of hygiene.
The hygiene theme continues with a physical bathroom basin and mirror that incorporates an interactive touchscreen to demonstrate, washing, shaving and other bathroom activities.
Next to the basin is a human torso displaying where a range of hygiene products are used. The products in this interactive display light up when children select the right product.
The ‘MicUp’ experience allows children to understand how their voice changes as they develop. As they speak into the mic, a wheel on the screen displays a change in tone and audio level.
Byrnes Health Education Center uses interactive technologies to create an active engaging environment where visitors can learn through participation.
Byrnes Health Education Center was designed to encourage children of all ages and abilities to learn more about health in a fun, engaging way.
GENERAL HEALTH
This theater explores the body’s senses.
The theme of the ‘Body Monitor’ is ‘Making Sense’. Children can use touch functionality to learn about the five senses and their relation to the brain.
Two large-scale models use AV technology to allow children to explore senses in more detail. A model head displays sensitive areas of the head. Each area of the head is linked to matching interactive images on the Body Monitor.
A giant 3D mouth illustrates the concept of sensitivity. On the adjacent wall, content from a ceiling-mounted projector explains the different types of cell found in the body.
To explain how the heart reacts to different sensations, an interactive heart rate monitor allows children to measure their heart rate under different conditions.
THE BODY SHOP
This theater examines how the body responds to different situations.
The ‘Body Monitor’ displays a large interactive telephone keypad that children can use to contact emergency services.
‘Safety Street’ is a wall painted to look like a street. Tutors use it to help children understand risks on the street and provide them with safety guidelines.
‘Let’s Eat’ is an interactive exhibit that allows children to select different types of food and displays their nutritional value on a large circular screen.
To help children understand the benefits of exercise, ‘Time to Exercise’ is an interactive pull-handle exhibit that displays the results of different levels of effort.
Children can listen to advice on healthcare and safety in a fun way at the ‘Puppet Theater’.
SOCIAL & EMOTIONAL HEALTH
This theater focuses visitors on the importance of social and emotional health.
The ‘Body Monitor’ is linked to a ‘Decision Tree’ on the wall behind. The ‘True Colors’ display on the Body Monitor educates children on the four basic personality types by displaying them as ‘colors’.
Children choose a personality type from the ‘True Colors’ display. The ‘Decision Tree’ then lights up in different colors to reflect the personality choice.
Other exhibits explore the themes of personality and emotions. The ‘Wall of Emotions’ features projected content to illustrate the range of different emotions.
The interactive ‘Projection Wheel’ allows children to select a ‘personality color’ and decide how to interact with different types of personality. This helps children accept personality differences and work with others without conflict.
STEM LAB
The STEM Lab is an interactive space where children and other visitors can apply STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) skills to real-life problems.
The interactive ‘Body Monitor’ displays a number of different images to support each of the STEM disciplines. In one scenario, children use their science skills to match physical bones with their position on an interactive skeleton image.
The ‘Discovery Table’ is an interactive touch table for learning about different STEM-related topics. Children place discs on the surface of the table to select a STEM topic. Placing the disc reveals motion graphics displaying fascinating facts and information about the science behind the topic.
‘Learn to be Healthy’ is an audio experience that reinforces learning points from health-related sessions in other areas of the Center.
Find out how award-winning visitor and education centers utilize interactive technology to create an engaging, informative learning space.
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