REPORT 9:
Learning with Digital Technologies in
Museums, Science Centres and Galleries
A Report for Futurelab
Roy Hawkey, King’s College, London
FOREWORD
| In the last few years there has been
massive growth in the use of digital
technologies for learning in museums,
science centres and galleries – both onsite
in the form of digital interactives, and
online via the creation of ever-more
popular websites. As early as 2002 the
number of virtual visitors to many
museums’ websites had already
overtaken the number of physical visitors
on-site. These developments, both within
the walls of the institution and outside
them, provide a number of challenges
for educators and curators, at the heart
of which lie the questions – what is
distinctive about learning in museums,
science centres and galleries, and how
might this change or evolve through the
increasing use of digital technologies?
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These questions go to the heart of
significant debates in this sector – how
does learning in musems differ from or
complement learning in schools? How
can museums fulfil their potential to
support lifelong learning? Should effort
and money be spent primarily on the
visitors who will enter the walls of the
institution or those who will virtually
explore the site through the web? What
is the role of objects in the process of
learning with digital technologies?
How does the relationship between
museum educator and learner change
as technologies are developed?
At a time when there are calls for
collaboration between schools and the
informal learning sector, when there is
increasing emphasis on lifelong learning,
when there is significant debate over the
value and utility of digital resources, this
review takes a step back and asks us to
consider the bigger picture – the history
and role of learning in museums, science
centres and galleries, the theories that
can help us to navigate the as yet unclear
waters of the future, and the major projects
and initiatives that are already providing
indications of the routes we might take.
We look forward to hearing your views on
this review and welcome comments at
research@futurelab.org.uk
Keri Facer
Director of Learning Research
Futurelab |
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CONTENTS:
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
SECTION 1
INTRODUCTION AND
BACKGROUND
SECTION 2
LEARNING IN MUSEUMS:
THEORETICAL
PERSPECTIVES
SECTION 3
ON-SITE LEARNING
SECTION 4
ONLINE LEARNING
SECTION 5
THE FUTURE: MORE OF
THE SAME… OR SOMETHING
COMPLETELY DIFFERENT?
BIBLIOGRAPHY
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Futurelab SERIES
