Sharing museum practice with adult learners

When we think of the role of museums, the words 'heritage' and ' learning' invariably appear. The learning part of museums usually relates to the content of the museums' collections and the stories told through exhibitions, websites and seminars. Museums pride themselves in creating experiences that inspire awe and wonder and communicate important information. The learning that happens in museums is generally associated with the acquisition and consumption of knowledge through visiting an institution and experiencing its collections or temporary programs in-situ. Adult learners, in particular, are keen to absorb the knowledge that is presented in museum exhibitions and appreciate the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the collections of a respected cultural institution. The concepts and prior work that have led to the creation of museum experiences, however, are not often considered as part of the learning process to be shared.