Drawing on the foundational theories of experiential learning, this article explores recent developments in theory and research on experiential learning and addresses how this work can enhance the professional development of museum docents. We introduce theories of adult learning and professional development that emphasize experiential learning as…

The radical reforms of Peter the Great of Russia (1672-1725) transformed the whole country. Among his educational reforms, the establishment in 1714 of the first public museum as a tool for public education had no precedents in Russian history. Its functions were formulated as "teaching and enlarging knowledge of nature, dead and alive, and…

This article chronicles the protest to draft plans for an exhibition on Deaf history organized by Gallaudet University. Jean Bergey, director of the History through Deaf Eyes project, analyzes documents from letters of concern and offers context on the politics of public presentation of Deaf community history. (Contains 1 note.)

Museums for America (MFA) is the largest IMLS grant program for museums; it supports institutions by investing in high-priority, high-value activities that are clearly linked to the institution's strategic plan and enhance its value to its community. MFA grants situate projects within a framework of meeting three strategic goals: engaging…

Sixty cultural heritage leaders from thirty-two countries, including representatives from Africa, Asia, the Middle East, South America, Australia, Europe, and North America gathered in October 2009 in Salzburg, Austria, to develop a series of practical recommendations to ensure optimal collections conservation worldwide. Convened at Schloss…

Teachers' recognition of the political and cultural implications of their pedagogical decisions is significant. Teachers need to recognize the role they play in the facilitation of democracy and the impact of their orientation toward cultural reproduction, social integration, and personal awareness. Political engagement rests on the assumption…

The purpose of this qualitative study was to determine how docents developed expertise within the context of their work with history museums. Twelve expert docents from four history-themed museums were interviewed to discover how expertise is developed by volunteers working in nonformal settings. Interpretation of the data revealed two primary…

Within the enterprise of science and technology centres there exists explicit aims and ambitions to enhance visitors' interest in and knowledge about science. Meanwhile, several researchers question the choice of the scientific content in exhibitions when arguing that a too unproblematic view of science commonly is presented. But how do staff…

This paper underlies the importance of the museum and the international scientific partnership for the promotion and valorisation of regional cultural heritage, as a condition for developing greater awareness of civilizational framework of cultural inheritance at the global level. The goal of the action research that was carried out in parallel in…

Our study compared the learning and motivational outcome of one educational approach in two different learning environments, a natural science museum and a classroom, drawing on studies about the effects of field trips on students' learning and motivation. The educational intervention consisted of an introduction phase in the classroom and…

The study examines the nature, conditions, and outcomes of student learning from an organised guided tour in the Deutsches Museum in Munich. The instructional methods that best support students' cognitive and affective learning as well as how students' motivational and emotional states influence their achievement were investigated. A sample of 96…

Given the growth in the number of older adults and the ageist attitudes many in the health care profession hold, interventions aimed at improving health professionals' attitudes toward older adults are imperative. Vital Visionaries is an intergenerational art program designed to improve medical students' attitudes toward older adults. Participants…

Technological developments influence the way artists create works of art. Newer technologies associated with the Web, called Web 2.0, are changing and affecting the work of contemporary artists. One form of Web 2.0 is the development of podcasts, which are compressed files that can be shared through the Internet. Podcasts are mainstream and many…

Place is an important factor in museum education, yet describing what the museum is as place is often difficult. This article introduces the idea that museums consist of multiple physical and virtual place "domains" where interactions between people and objects occur: the origin domain, creation domain, display domain, and the experiencer-object…

While place-based education has its roots in the school system, ideas and techniques of the theory are easily adaptable to the museum community. This article showcases the efforts of three museums to apply place-based learning to their programs and exhibits. Innovative approaches to museum learning have enabled the Pratt Museum in Homer, Alaska,…