Tuesdays, 4:00-7:00 PM Instructor: Shari Tishman S-305 Research on Learning in Museums: Issues and Approaches

Central Questions of the Course 1. What does learning look like? 2. What kind of learning happens in and around museums? 3. How can museum learning be made visible?

Topic I: Conceptions of learning and museum missions Weeks 1-4 Fundamental concepts: Knowledge, learning, teaching. Museum missions, philosophies of learning, and museum practices.

Epistemology Branch of philosophy that investigates the origin, structure, methods and validity of knowledge. What is knowledge (and how do we know for sure)? Where does it come from? Who has it? How is it acquired? How is it organized? Learning Theory Explains how learning occurs. Often associated with cognitive psychology, emphasizing cognitive mechanisms or processes. Often based in empirical research. Learning theories can be general, or targeted to specific learning challenges or stages. Useful website: Pedagogy (Direct Instruction & Designed Learning Environments) An action theory that attempts to guide the design of activities and environments aimed at the achievement of learning. Draws out the action (or design) implications of epistemology + learning theory.