MUSEUMS AS LEARNING CENTERS
The idea of going to a museum often sounds dry and boring. But not anymore! In an attempt to make learning an exciting, dynamic experience, museums have made several changes. Instead of the usual large, quiet halls with closely guarded dinosaur bones or statues and a short text of explanation, visitors today find colorful flashing lights, computers and exhibits that say "Please, Touch Me." Art museums, science centers and even zoos now resemble computer game rooms or playgrounds.(lines 1–5)
Of course, museums have always been places of learning. Many have always provided after-school clubs, libraries, and have even organized festivals. But until the recent innovations were added, the learning experience had been mostly passive. "There are two principles guiding most museums today," says Toronto Museum Director Dr. Sandra Fisher. "First, we believe that providing a more active experience is an effective learning method because it creates a long-lasting memory. The museums are designed in a way that enables the learners to interact with many exhibits and participate in experiments, so they are learning through experience. In addition, people are in charge of their learning: they are free to choose which buttons to push, which computer screens to touch and which activities to participate in. Research has proven that when people have a choice, their learning is even more meaningful and lasts longer."(lines 6–15)
Exhibitions based on a particular theme usually offer a choice of especially challenging activities. In art museums, for example, learners can experiment with light and colors, just like the artists Vincent van Gogh and Leonardo da Vinci did. In an exhibit at a German science center, the students can alter the flow of a river and see how this change affects both modern bridges and bridges that were built 1000 years ago. A very popular exhibit in a museum in England is based on most visitors' favorite subject: themselves! The activities there deal with the brain and different human emotions, such as happiness and anger. And of course, they also investigate why we look the way we do.(lines 16–22)
Although most educators point out that these new methods awaken an interest in young people, some react negatively. The critics say these "flashy" science centers and museums are little more than amusement parks. They claim that some children who have difficulty concentrating benefit very little from their visit and only rush noisily between exhibits. But despite the difference of opinion among educators, one thing is clear: museums today have come a long way since the days when they showed mainly paintings exhibited on walls. They have become modern learning centers devoted to teaching the younger generation about the world around them and developing their skills to succeed in the future.(lines 23–29)