Perspectives on Object-centered Learning in Museums

Examines how children interact with objects and thereby acquire new knowledge and attitudes. The analysis is applied to a wide range of environments, but primarily museums.

Preface. Part I: Studying Learning With Objects in Contexts Other Than Schools. L. Dierking, The Role of Context in Children's Learning From Objects and Experiences. S. Rowe, The Role of Objects in Active, Distributed Meaning-Making. S.G. Paris, S.E. Hapgood, Children Learning With Objects in Informal Learning Environments. E.M. Evans, M.S. Mull, D.A. Poling, The Authentic Object? A Child's-Eye View. C.O. Frost, When the Object Is Digital: Properties of Digital Surrogate Objects and Implications for Learning. D.C. Michener, I.J. Schultz, Through the Garden Gate: Objects and Informal Education for Environmental Awareness in Arboreta and Botanic Gardens. J.V. Wertsch, Epistemological Issues About Objects. Part II: Discipline-Based Explorations of Objects. B. Piscitelli, K. Weier, Learning With, Through, and About Art: The Role of Social Interactions. R. Bain, K.M. Ellenbogen, Placing Objects Within Disciplinary Perspectives: Examples From History and Science. S.E. Hapgood, A.S. Palincsar, Fostering an Investigatory Stance: Using Text to Mediate Inquiry With Museum Objects. L.J. Rennie, T.P. McClafferty, Objects and Learning: Understanding Young Children's Interaction With Science Exhibits. C.E. van Kraayenoord, S.G. Paris, Reading Objects. L. Schauble, Cloaking Objects in Epistemological Practices. Part III: Conversations About Objects. M. Borun, Object-Based Learning and Family Groups. M.A. Callanan, J.L. Jipson, M.S. Soennichsen, Maps, Globes, and Videos: Parent-Child Conversations About Representational Objects. K.A. Morrissey, Pathways Among Objects and Museum Visitors. G. Leinhardt, K. Crowley, Objects of Learning, Objects of Talk: Changing Minds in Museums. M. Pope, D.B. Beane, Leveling the Playing Field Through Object-Based Service Learning. S. Duensing, The Object of Experience.