Contextual Learning Model - Danielle Tisdale

What aspects of the Contextual Model of Learning (or the large Museum Visitor Experience Model) are most interesting and why? 

I think the aspects of the Contextual Model of Learning that are most interesting to me are the personal context aspects. I like that no two guests will have the same exact experience, and that each time they visit, the experience will be a little bit different. I think that is something that people can underestimate about MOXI, yes we are a smallish museum and our exhibits don't change often, but you will never have the exact same experience twice. I learn new things from guests all the time, and when I get the chance to interact with guests I've interacted with before, they always have new questions or insights into the exhibits. For example, in the workshop we're doing felting again, so some guests have done felting with us before, but it's wet felting instead of needle felting, which means that they can experience the material in a new way. Recently, I saw a grandma come in with her granddaughter, and the granddaughter noticed her grandma checking out the crochet station, and asked her grandma to teach her how to crochet. The grandma worked with her granddaughter and was so excited to share this activity that she does with her granddaughter, which she might not have been able to do otherwise. These kinds of interactions are why I like the aspects of personal context in the contextual model of learning. Everyone has different expectations, motivations, and life experiences and we get to see them interact in the same space in entirely different ways.