Research shows that student learning in museums is maximised by the following factors:
1. Teachers are familiar with the museum site and plan for:
- the social aspects of learning – encouragement of students to talk; share ideas and ask lots of questions about what they are seeing/hearing/touching;
- the need for both physical and mental rests during the visit;
- integrating the visit into the broader body of student learning at the school level, strongly linked to the curriculum. Follow-up and reflective sessions with students are essential.
2. Students are prepared prior to the visit by:
- pre-visit lessons, orientations and establishing their prior knowledge;
- helping them to understand key concepts;
- encouraging curiosity and giving them some choice and control over their learning experiences;
- forming co-operative small groups to work in the museum, preferably in the company of a supervising adult.
3. Students share their findings in some sort of report or presentation.
Source: Melbourne Museum website 2013
