Secret of the Quiz

Wondering what kind of interactive to make for your new exhibition?

Well, you kinda can't go wrong with a quiz.

It's not because they're easy to make. A good quiz takes some work.

It's because interactive quizzes secretly communicate something to visitors that's underappreciated: "You already know enough to do this."

Oddly, it's the other types of interactives that can feel most like burdensome classwork:

> "Learn more" stations demand extra mental effort. (You have to, you know, learn more.)

> "Art making" stations demand time, confidence, and energy.

> "Search and find" games demand effort that often isn't closely related to the exhibition's subject.

Quizzes are lighter. Universal. They can take ten seconds or two minutes. Families can do them together. Friends can compare answers. Parents can quiz children. Everybody feels a sense of personal progress as they move through the gallery.

Quizzes in exhibitions have never really been about "assessment." Done right, a quiz is never hard.

Because the format is universally familiar, a quiz creates curiosity, anticipation, and personal investment almost instantly.

Here's the thing:

Secretly, interactive quizzes in exhibitions aren't really "tests" at all. They are a surprisingly relatable way to make every visitor feel smart and engaged.

And now you know the secret.

Warmly,
Jonathan

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MtM Word of the Day:
Assistive Listening System. A technology that improves audio clarity for individuals with hearing impairments. It transmits amplified sound from a system in the room directly into a person’s hearing aid or receiver. Common types include induction loops, FM systems, and infrared.