1st Edition
Museum Learning Theory and Research as Tools for Enhancing Practice
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements
List of Contributors
Chapter 1 Introduction
References
Chapter 2 Theory and Museum Practice
What’s in a theory?
What are they good for?
Where do they come from?
Theories about learning
Constructivism as an illustrated case
References
Chapter 3 The Importance of Methods and Methodology for Museum Practice
Philosophical background to research
Approaches to research
Methods of research
Trustworthiness and transferability
Summary
References
Topic Chapters
Chapter 4 Museums and the Making of Meaning
Do Jews have a rule against gay or lesbian people?
Introduction
The basics of meaning making
Meaning making in the museum
A return to the Jewish Museum
Contextualising meaning making
References
Chapter 5 Narrative, Discourse, and Matters of Communication
Experiences on Room 41
Introduction
The basics of discourse and narrative
Narrative and the museum perspective
Museum research drawing upon the visitor perspective
A return to Room 41
Contextualising narrative, discourse, and communication
References
Chapter 6 Degrees of Authenticity in Museums
Authentic nature play at the Chicago Botanic Garden
Introduction
The basics of authenticity
Museums and the perception of authenticity
Summary and reflections
A return to the Learning Campus at CBG
Contextualising authenticity
References
Chapter 7 Remembering, Reminding, and Reminiscing in Museums
Build your own bush bark hut
Introduction
Basics of personal constructs of memory
Basics of constructs about collective memory
Museums and memory studies
A return to the bush bark huts
Contextualising memory
References
Chapter 8 The Role of Self and Identity in Learning
The art of voicing Black women’s identity as seen through everyday objects
Introduction
The basics of identity
Self and identity in the museum context
A return to the Colored Girls Museum
Contextualising self and identity
References
Chapter 9 Motivation: From Visiting to Devotion
Linking up museums and people through serious pursuits
Introduction
The basics of motivation
Motivation in museums
A return to the VIP programme
Contextualising motivation
References
Chapter 10 Questioning culture and power in museums
Aboriginal people and museums working together
Introduction
The basics of culture and power
Culture and power in the museum context
A return to museum-Aboriginal communities collaborations
Contextualising culture and power
References
Chapter 11 Conclusions
References
Glossary
Index
Biography
Jill Hohenstein is Senior Lecturer in Psychology in Education at the School of Education, Communication and Society, King’s College London. Trained as a developmental psychologist, her research examines the ways that children and adults learn in informal settings, including museums, with a particular focus on language and cognitive development.
Theano Moussouri is Senior Lecturer in Museum Studies at the Institute of Archaeology, University College London. She previously worked in museums as an audience researcher. Her current research examines motivation and meaning-making in museum visitors and non-visitors; museum professionals’ development and sharing of knowledge; and researcher-practitioner collaborative research.
