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The Museum as a Site and Source for Learning

Anne Wallace, Margaret Jago, Jennifer McKernan-Malcolm, and Hui Lu

Anyone with an interest in museums and their potential for learning

Topics Covered

What museums know about their visitors and how they find out
Approaches to learning: young visitors and visitors with additional needs
Ways in which social media can support learning
How to design and interpret a contemporary art exhibition
Why contemporary art can prove challenging to engage with/ understand and to teach?
What does a conservator do all day?
Designing an online exhibition

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Reviews summary

Museum learning: engaging & foundational overview

According to learners, this course offers a largely positive experience, particularly for those new to the field or with a general interest in museums. Students find the lectures engaging and the overall content provides insightful perspectives on how museums function as educational spaces. Key features like visitor engagement, the role of social media, and discussions on contemporary art are frequently highlighted as strengths. However, some professionals felt the course was too broad and lacked the in-depth, practical advice they sought, leaning more towards a theoretical overview. Despite some calls for deeper content, many appreciated its foundational nature.

The topics are insightful and delivered in an engaging manner.

"The content on how museums engage with visitors and use social media was particularly insightful."

"Loved this course! ...provided really interesting perspectives on how museums function as educational spaces."

"As a museum volunteer, I found every single module relevant and engaging. The insights into visitor behavior and exhibition design were immensely helpful."

Provides an excellent and comprehensive introduction to museum learning.

"This course was absolutely fantastic! ... Highly recommend for anyone curious about museum education."

"A very solid introduction to museum studies from a learning perspective... great for beginners."

"Excellent course for anyone new to the field or just curious. The content is well-structured and the examples are clear."

Some learners perceive a lack of significant updates or changes over time.

"Not much changed over the years based on older reviews."

Leans more on theoretical concepts than hands-on practical applications.

"Interesting topics, but I felt some of the content, especially on online exhibitions, could have been more in-depth and practical."

"It was more theoretical than I expected. Good for a general overview, but I was hoping for more actionable insights."

"I was hoping for more actionable insights for designing digital experiences."

May lack the practical depth desired by experienced museum professionals.

"My only minor critique is that some parts felt a bit basic for someone already working in the field."

"Expected more practical advice for museum professionals. It was too broad and didn't delve deep enough into any specific area."

"Felt more like an introduction for tourists rather than for serious learners."

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