Learning and museums
Learning is central to the work that museums do.
Museums are well placed to offer experiences and opportunities for learning through interaction with collections and objects which bring the past to life. As well as formal learning techniques, museums can engage and inform visitors through interpretation, object based learning and collections-centred activities. There are also opportunities for outreach through loan boxes, mobile museums, touring exhibitions and school visits.
Learning can take many forms:
More information about each of these different types of learning can be found in the left hand menu on this page.
Learning needs to be thought of in a broader context to encompass people of any age and not just be thought of in formal education context.
In the right hand menu on this page can be found various resources to help you in planning, implementing and evaluating effective learning activities.
Inspiring Learning for All can also help. It has been developed as a web-based resource by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) and will help you to review and develop learning activities based on a framework of best practice, as well as measuring their impact on learners.
LEM (The Learning Museum Network Project) provides opportunities for networking with colleagues trhoughout Europe, and developing EU-funded projects on issues around museum learning. It also has an excellent museum learning resource list.
Using digital tools to enhance learning
The Heritage Lottery Fund has published a report which draws together key themes and lessons to consider when planning and delivering digital activity designed to engage a range of different audiences. 'Image Makers' includes case studies which illustrate a wide range of approaches to using digital media to engage people with heritage, from crowd sourcing to geocaching and from mobile applications to websites.
The case for cultural learning
The Cultural Learning Alliance provides evidence for the value of museum learning. The 'Hands On' pages of the Education Scotland internet site, developed with support from MGS, are also useful in terms of supporting the value of museum learning to delivery of the Curriculum for Excellence.
The engaging museum
Nina Simon's 'The Participatory Museum' is a helpful introduction to how and why museums can engage with their public and encourage learning.
