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Learning and engagement through natural history museums

Mujtaba, T; Lawrence, M; Oliver, M; Reiss, MJ; (2018) Learning and engagement through natural history museums. Studies in Science Education , 54 (1) pp. 41-67. 10.1080/03057267.2018.1442820. Green open access

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Abstract

This review examines how natural history museums (NHMs) can enhance learning and engagement in science, particularly for school-age students. First, we describe the learning potential of informal science learning institutions in general, then we focus on NHMs. We review the possible benefits of interactions between schools and NHMs, and the potential for NHMs to teach about challenging issues such as evolution and climate change and to use digital technologies to augment more traditional artefacts. We conclude that NHMs can provide students with new knowledge and perspectives, with impacts that can last for years. Through visits and their on-line presence, NHMs can help students see science in ways that the school classroom rarely can, with opportunities to meet scientists, explore whole topic exhibitions, engage with interactive displays and employ digital technologies both in situ and to support learning in the school science classroom. Although these interactions have the potential to foster positive cognitive, affective and social outcomes for students, there is a lack of reliable measures of the impact of NHM experiences for students. Opportunities to foster relationships between NHM staff and teachers through professional development can help articulate shared goals to support students’ learning and engagement.

Type: Article
Title: Learning and engagement through natural history museums
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1080/03057267.2018.1442820
Publisher version: https://doi.org/10.1080/03057267.2018.1442820
Language: English
Additional information: © 2018 the Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. this is an open access article distributed under the terms of the creative commons attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Keywords: Natural history museum, informal science, digital technologies, learning, engagement
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Education
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Education > UCL Institute of Education
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Education > UCL Institute of Education > IOE - Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10045450
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