Museums are More Than a Cultural Asset

Historically, the kind of learning that occurs in museums and similar institutions has been regarded as inferior to the learning which occurs in the classroom. Museums, while seen as culturally important assets in their respective communities, are typically seen as places where children go on field trips, families visit on rainy days, or when there is nothing else to do.

As an educator who has taught in the classroom I used to think that way too, but nothing could be further from the truth. Museums support in-class learning through their field trips and exhibitions, providing a memorable experiences and learning opportunities to their adults and children in a novel setting. We provide experiences using specialized equipment, often not present in the schools, utilizing learning spaces such as hands-on science areas, planetarium domes and giant screen theaters not found in schools. According to L. Smith and C. Paisley from the Ontario Science Center, museums:

blow stuff up; provide those “wow” moments; connect students and teachers with real science in a fun, safe and exciting immersive environment; and spark an interest in learning more about science.

We provide opportunities for numerous teachable moments that connect adults and children with art, history and science in a manner which is generally regarded to be culturally significant and of high quality.

Museums allow their guests to have experiences in their galleries and through their programs that they simply cannot achieve anywhere else. Everyday museums strike a unique balance which is difficult to achieve in schools that is both entertaining and educational.

According to a survey conducted by the firm PCAV, over 80% of respondents intended to visit a museum, art gallery, or large screen theater while traveling or on vacation last year. As you make your plans for the trips and vacations for the remainder of the year, consider visiting a museum while at your destination. I am particularly fond of visiting history museums, especially when visiting an area I have not been to before. There, you will be exposed to the culture of that particular region, learn about the people who have resided there, what they valued in their community, their struggles and their successes. Museums are more than places to spend a rainy day or to send our children to on field trips. They are places to revel in the awe of humanities accomplishments, become lifelong learners about science and technology and come to a better understanding of the emotions and struggles our society has experienced through art, as we interpret the past and seek to understand our future.