Reading through the different ideas and experiences in Letting Go? reminds me of countless conversations had with my cohort class about history and views of public history. The conversations about how History Channel was better when it first came out and now has been dramatized to keep the viewership numbers high. The web and virtual exhibits can be useful in getting people who would otherwise not want to go to museums to go and better enjoy themselves. The other side is that there has to be a middle ground between interactive and non-interactive to appease most people when it comes to exhibits. The article by Kathleen McLean see museums as a place to hold historical conversations and is community place of learning for all involved. “We need to think of visitor’s as partners in a generative learning process within a dynamic community of learners” (72). Instead of believing one is expert its better to learn as a community and have positive dialogue.
The use of the web and interactive technologies is good but should not be the overdone either. To much stimulus can ruin an experience. Digital collections enhance learning by allowing the historical community to see artifacts or photos not normally seen in public. This also allows for more information to be accessed to the community when needed for research. As Mathew MacArthur saw that objects can be used as learning tool and resource. The art of using the object is what can make it successful as a learning tool. “Thus displayed, museum collections “cultivate the powers of observation, and the casual visitor even makes discoveries for himself, and, under the guidance of the labels, forms his own impressions”; further, objects are a ” powerful stimulant to intellectual activity” (58). With the use of both learning and thinking is achieved.
This is almost exactly where I sit in it as well. Not allow it to become cheapened by making it overly interactive but also to give it some interactive capabilities. The place that struck me is the Discovery Center. I find that they change up exhibits regularly and give a combination of interactive and more static exhibits that would draw both types of crowds. Although it is based on science rather than history I believe it is a good overall model to follow.
Mischa – As I read your blogpost the words that came to mind were “alternate facts.” I’m not suggesting that is what you’re saying, but it is what flashed through my brain as I read, ” ‘We need to think of visitor’s as partners in a generative learning process within a dynamic community of learners’ (72). Instead of believing one is expert its better to learn as a community and have positive dialogue.”