Your Museum Experience by Tina Jeon

Shreepriya

dogra013_ — 2023-11-06 18:47:58 UTC

As a student, I never used any sort of technology except for audio guides (where the exhibit descriptions were not in English) or interactive screens near some exhibits. A lot of times I felt lost since I did not have access to information about each exhibit and sometimes there was an information overload.

Shreepriya

dogra013_ — 2023-11-06 18:50:14 UTC

In the recent past, I have only been to museums a couple of times. I see a marked difference in the way information is presented. There are far more interactive activities than before. I have used mobile apps to help navigate the exhibits and get more information. I am yet to use AR or VR in a museum.

Shreepriya

dogra013_ — 2023-11-06 18:51:17 UTC

There are several changes with immersive technologies and technology integrations being the top most.

Shreepriya

dogra013_ — 2023-11-06 18:53:01 UTC

I want to learn about how there AR and VR experiences are designed. I am also curious about the skillset these designers have. It seems like a multi-disciplinary field and there may be different pathways to work in this area. I am curious about those too.

Tina

jeon0143 — 2023-11-06 20:23:28 UTC

Mostly the textual description of artifacts or tour guides were the source of information, and I always made written notes (which I still have at home!). Like Shreepriya, audio guide was main digital device/tool used at museum for me as well. Some exhibitions had a button that you can press and it would make the displayed artifacts move and make sound. (ex.Dinosaur moving and roaring, or a mannequin starts to moving and starts talking)

Tina

jeon0143 — 2023-11-06 20:27:27 UTC

I would say recent museum make audience immersed into the experience / historical events. This summer I have visited this museum around Korean War. There was a room designed like an old train, and once you sit on the train seat, the wall becomes a window displaying the outdoor scenery back in the day, and narration coming out so that you'd feel like you are one of the UN soldiers dispatched to Korea. There was a VR headset in the helicoptor designed room as well, again making you immersed with what soldiers would have felt that time.

Tina

jeon0143 — 2023-11-06 20:30:48 UTC

While many museums in the past just showcased the artifacts and historical facts, which essentially make you feel distant from those stories in the past, current museums have more tools for immersive experience. For me that is positive change because that makes participants actively make connection with history and learn more meaningful lessons.

However, I also wonder how much it is impactful in terms of learning. In other words, with the technology integration, did people actually significantly learn more things? Do people like the museum experience just because of fun tinkering with tools / AR(VR) activities, or did it actually help people learning something as well?

Tina

jeon0143 — 2023-11-06 20:33:48 UTC

I am also curious about design strategies for museum technologies. I think it would take different effort, as museum is ultimately for all the public, ranging from different ages and backgrounds/identities.

Also, I wonder how technology can broaden the boundary of museum, outside of the physical space. I know virtual exhibitions field got bigger especially since the pandemic, which gave more accessibility and modalities to experience museum. But also considering digital divide / technology readiness, still long way to go...

Galyna

2023-11-09 19:39:09 UTC

As a kid, I visited local museums that were very old-fashioned. You walk, you look at things, the staff are following and watching you. And of course, no touching anything! No tech was involved. It was dull.

Galyna

2023-11-09 19:44:16 UTC

You should all go check out the Mill City Museum in Minneapolis. I visited it this summer with friends - it is the most memorable museum experience for me. Lots of interactive exhibits, wonderfully curated spaces, and even a chance to be part of an immersive experience while going up the industrial lift. Just wow. So far, I've been to 4 museums in Minnesota - Minnesota Historical Society is doing lots of great things.

Galyna

2023-11-09 19:49:23 UTC

I think museums, just like schools, are trying to shift from instructionism to connectivism. Instead of just displaying items and saying what/when something happened, there is a shift toward trying to engage the visitor into interacting with the pieces.

Galyna

2023-11-09 19:52:53 UTC

What to show/omit, how to design the flow, how to make things versatile and user-friendly (being fun for all ages)... so many questions!

Cassie

2023-11-09 21:26:02 UTC

way back when I was a child, the science museum was a destination for school trips. things to look at (Dino skeleton) and a cool IMAX movie theater. the technologies in the exhibits themselves = sound, light bulbs (riding a bike to make a bulb light), sometimes a short video to watch

cassie

2023-11-09 21:31:53 UTC

as an adult...most recently I was at the Minnesota History Museum (https://www.mnhs.org/historycenter/activities/museum). Just last week to see 2 exhibits (Our Home Native Minnesota and Reframing Our Stories). There were videos, interactive maps, places for kids to make things, artifacts to see from past and present.

cassie

2023-11-09 21:33:11 UTC

a shift from learn from looking at things to learn from looking, moving, watching, listening, building, experiencing things

John

2023-11-10 01:54:17 UTC

Like cassie, I remember the dinosaurs from school trips. Those were my favorite. We also went to the planetarium that was attached to the museum. I loved the Henry Moore sculptures in the art gallery, even though I got in trouble for running around. And finally, we had an awesome museum similar to the SMM in St. Paul called the Ontario Science Center. It has since lost most of its funding and is now falling apart and has no good exhibits.

John

2023-11-10 01:55:20 UTC

I take my daughters to lots of science-museums so that's really fun. Often at more traditional museums they also have kids' days that are a lot more interactive.

John

2023-11-10 01:56:24 UTC

like everyone else has said, it seems like museums have become more learner-focused.

John

2023-11-10 01:57:15 UTC

How to create connections between people and exhibits.