Learning and engagement through natural history museums
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 inte...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Taylor & Francis
2018
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/49844/ |
| _version_ | 1848798091778457600 |
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| author | Mujtaba, Tamjid Lawrence, Martin Oliver, Mary Reiss, Michael |
| author_facet | Mujtaba, Tamjid Lawrence, Martin Oliver, Mary Reiss, Michael |
| author_sort | Mujtaba, Tamjid |
| building | Nottingham Research Data Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | 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. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T20:14:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | nottingham-49844 |
| institution | University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus |
| institution_category | Local University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T20:14:16Z |
| publishDate | 2018 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | nottingham-498442018-03-19T11:21:07Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/49844/ Learning and engagement through natural history museums Mujtaba, Tamjid Lawrence, Martin Oliver, Mary Reiss, Michael 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. Taylor & Francis 2018-03-15 Article PeerReviewed application/pdf en cc_by https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/49844/7/Learning_and_engagement_through_natural.pdf Mujtaba, Tamjid, Lawrence, Martin, Oliver, Mary and Reiss, Michael (2018) Learning and engagement through natural history museums. Studies in Science Education . ISSN 0305-7267 natural history museums informal science digital technologies learning engagement https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03057267.2018.1442820 doi:10.1080/03057267.2018.1442820 doi:10.1080/03057267.2018.1442820 |
| spellingShingle | natural history museums informal science digital technologies learning engagement Mujtaba, Tamjid Lawrence, Martin Oliver, Mary Reiss, Michael Learning and engagement through natural history museums |
| title | Learning and engagement through natural history museums |
| title_full | Learning and engagement through natural history museums |
| title_fullStr | Learning and engagement through natural history museums |
| title_full_unstemmed | Learning and engagement through natural history museums |
| title_short | Learning and engagement through natural history museums |
| title_sort | learning and engagement through natural history museums |
| topic | natural history museums informal science digital technologies learning engagement |
| url | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/49844/ https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/49844/ https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/49844/ |