journal :: Anderson, D., Piscitelli, B., & Everett, M. (2008). Competing agendas: Young children's museum field trips. Curator, 51(3), 253-273.

last updated: 2008-10-28 11:02:52

Abstract

Visitors to museum settings have agendas that encompass a wide variety of missions. Agendas are known to directly influence visitor behavior and learning. Numerous agendas are at play during a visit to a museum. We suggest that in a museum-based learning experience, children's agendas are often overlooked, and are times in competition with the accompanying adult's agendas. This paper describes and qualitatively analyzes three episodes of competing agendas that occurred on young children's field trips to museums in Brisbane, Australia. The aim is to elucidate the kinds of tensions over agendas that can arise in the experience of young museum-goers. Additionally, we hope to alert museum practitioners to the importance of considering children's agendas, with the aim of improving their museum experience. Suggestions are also made for ways in which educators can address children's agendas during museum visits in order to maximize learning outcomes.

Publisher URL

http://www.altamirapress.com/RLA/Journals/curator/

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