Smithsonian Commons Prototype
In July, 2009 we completed a Smithsonian Web and New Media Strategy that describes an updated digital experience, a new learning model that helps people with their "lifelong learning journeys," and the creation of a Smithsonian Commons, a new part of our digital presence dedicated to stimulating learning, creation, and innovation through open access to Smithsonian research, collections and communities. The Smithsonian Commons will, in many ways, be the platform through which we accomplish the Four Grand Challenges articulated in the Smithsonian Institution Strategic Plan. The purpose of this prototype is to help the Smithsonian community understand and discuss the attributes and benefits of the Smithsonian Commons in terms of its impact on real users. The prototype project was conceived as a rapid, research and development process to advance our understanding of the Smithsonian Commons, what its goals and benefits are, how to talk about it, and how to fund and build it.
