1. Travelling through the landscape of informal learning
Applying views on learning in practice
Rooske Franse
Science Learning Center, NEMO Science Museum, The Netherlands
REV Pre-Conference, 2016, Graz
How to access and implement research findings
Joanneum Quarter, Auditorium 3
Wednesday 8th June 2016
Integrating theory into practice
14:00-15:15

2. Travel guide for journeys through the landscape of informal learning
an entry into theoretical information about learning
experiences and practical tips from travelers
Employees Dutch science centers and museums
Experts informal learning working together with museums
Sr. Content
developer exhibitions
Educator
Scientist developmental psychology
Writer “Kolb in the museum”
Lecturer Academy Cultural
Heritage
Manager education
Sr. Exhibition developer

3. .

4. High Lights
Landmarks
‘The Museum Experience’ by John Falk and Lynn Dierking
‘The Constructivist Museum’ by George Hein

5. High Lights
Landmarks
‘The Museum Experience’ by John Falk and Lynn Dierking
‘The constructivist Museum’ by George Hein
What is knowledge?
How do people learn?

6. High Lights
Landmarks
‘The Museum Experience’ by John Falk and Lynn Dierking
‘The constructivist Museum’ by George Hein
What is knowledge?
The Systematic museum
The discovery museum
The Orderly museum
The constructivist museum
How do people learn?

7. High Lights
Landmarks
‘The Museum Experience’ by John Falk and Lynn Dierking
‘The constructivist Museum’ by George Hein
Example of application:
Using a conceptual frameworks to facilitate a discussion about learning and knowledge

8. High Lights Advanced level Traveling
‘Representational Redescription Theory’ by Annette Karmiloff-Smith
Tacit knowledge is far more difficult to adjust then explicit knowledge.

9. High Lights Advanced level Traveling
‘Representational Redescription Theory’ by Annette Karmiloff-Smith
Example of application:
Applying research outcomes in educational workshops and activities

10. High Lights Hidden Gems
‘Contextual prerequisites for understanding: Some investigations of comprehension and recall’ by J. Bransford and M. Johnson.

11. High Lights Hidden Gems
‘Contextual prerequisites for understanding: Some investigations of comprehension and recall’ by J. Bransford and M. Johnson.
Example of application:
Applying research outcomes in exhibition development

12. High Lights Popular Destinations
Howard Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences
David Kolb’s Learning styles model
Critical notes from scientifically point of view
‘Learning styles and pedagogy in post-16 learning. A systematic and critical review’ by Frank Coffield, et all .
Example of application:
Using ideas as inspirational tools, to make blind spots visible

13. Travel guide References New destinations? 50 books and articles
Disciplines:
- Science Education
- Psychology
- Museology
- Design and Aesthetics
- Visitors research
- Didactics and pedagogy (general)
- Social studies
- Communication and Media
2009
Sue Allen and Joshua Gutwill: ‘Creating a Program to Deepen Family Inquiry at Interactive Science Exhibits’.
1989
James Carey: ’Communication as culture, essays on media and society.’
New destinations?

14. New destinations?
Museum practitioners can benefit from people who can bridge the gap between theory and practice:
select relevant topics
write accessible publications

15. Integrating theory into practice
Encouraging a research culture in NEMO, some key elements that work for us:
facilitate the process,
on a regular basis ,
for a longer period of time,
working sessions,
in a group context,
(partly) resulting in concrete outcomes,
Relevance
Meaning making
Examples
Internal (NEMO)
External
Quarterly meetings (since 2010)
NEMO’s vision on learning (2014)
Taxonomy of visitor experiences (2014)
Travel guide (2012)
Reading club (since 2013)

16. Quarterly meetings Interdisciplinary Discussion Sessions in NEMO
Programme makers, Educators, Academics
Experience, Practice, Theory
Example
“What is learning?”
“What makes a learning environment rich and rewarding?”
“What is NEMO’s approach?”
Result
Joint vision NEMO
Important to articulate in a joint process what for NEMO a rich, rewarding visitor experience actually means.
What is important for rich visitor experiences according to the NEMO program makers
Exhibitions & Programs, Science Learning Center
“What is learning?” “What makes a learning environment rich and rewarding?” “What is NEMO’s approach?” Just a handful of the questions discussed by programme makers and educators in a series of content-focused sessions involving endowed professor Maartje Raijmakers. The results of these sessions, fuelled by ideas from science learning literature, were developed in greater detail and written up. This joint vision of learning provides a content-related framework in which to develop and prototype new concepts.

17. Integrating theory into practice
Encouraging a research culture in NEMO, some key elements that work for us:
facilitate the process,
on a regular basis ,
for a longer period of time,
working sessions,
in a group context,
(partly) resulting in concrete outcomes,
partnership university
supported by management
two directions : theory into practice AND practice into theory,
Examples
Internal (NEMO)
External
 NEMO R&D prototyping (since 2014)
NEMO R&D research (since 2014)
Museum Grants project (2016)

18. NEMO R&D Lab Space At the heart of the museum
For museum and university
For basic & applied research on science learning & prototyping
Infrastructure
Manual for researchers
Internal & External communication
Data storage
Marketing
Theoretical Framework
NEMO’s vision of learning
Visitor experiences at the heart of research
Creating & Exchanging Knowledge

19. Integrating theory into practice
Three chapters of the original guide translated into English.

20. Integrating theory into practice
Applications
Using conceptual frameworks to facilitate a discussion about learning and knowledge
Applying research outcomes in educational workshops and activities
Applying research outcomes in exhibition development
Using ideas as inspirational tools, to make blind spots visible.