The beginning of this article (Chapter 8 - The Contextual Model of Learning) immediately had me thinking about this fundamental challenge of working (and teaching) at MOXI: human beings proclivity for neatly packaged explanations versus MOXI’s thesis that learning requires challenge, testing, failing, and not knowing right away. The medical students mentioned in the article didn’t like the teachers who offered multiple perspectives. The article is talking about how learning is so complex that it can’t be explained by a simple model. But what stood out to me was that they said the students “hated” multiple perspectives - essentially open-endedness.
Do some guests hate us for not giving a neat package?? What if I went to the library and asked where I could find books on gardening and they responded by saying, “Where do you think you could find books about gardening? What have you observed so far?” I mean, maybe the world would be a better, more self-reliant place if every institution did that. But it would be frustrating. Maybe they could play off my ego - “That’s such a great question! At the library, we love for people to ask questions. I can definitely help you find books about gardening. Do you see anything that might help you find types of books?” That does actually sound pretty fun. The point I’m trying to make is that maybe we’re pushing people to simpler explanations because those are more comfortable. Do they leave MOXI primed to glom onto the answers from people who “chop off the rough edges?”
Obviously I don’t think that is happening outright, because we emphasize play and fun so heavily. People have fun at MOXI and probably come expecting to be challenged on some level. What I’m wondering is if there are there ways of giving people a better, neater packages that help them find comfort in the challenges. Specifically in those moments when guests ask for them - “How does this work?” Maybe we should do more work around being powerfully playful in those moments. People also inherently love games. I know that I could use more practice in teaching judo to convert peoples frustration into fun. Anybody want to do some role-playing around this with me??
Anyway, back to the point of the article - people come to museums with a variety of "predetermined expectations" so vast that they can't be simply modeled. It's helpful to break down the key factors that influence learning. I really like the line, "Museums do best when they attract and reinforce intrinsically motivated individuals." I think we do a good job at this in what we outwardly present as a museum. Offering so much choice, freedom, and opportunities to follow your own whims - and not offering rote explanations (i.e. signs) - is a siren call to the curious and intrinsically motivated. Another line in the key factors section that stuck out was, "When skillful, the staff of a museum can significantly facilitate visitor learning."
Hey Kevin, I'd be happy to try some frustration-to-fun role play judo learning facilitation with you!
ReplyDeleteI think your point is a good one that it's possible that some guests could sometimes be discouraged that they aren't presented with simple explanations to experiences they encounter here. I think that's why it's super important to always keep the process of inquiry in mind when we're facilitating on the floor, making sure guests are asking and testing questions in a fun way, and finding joy in the process rather than the answer. This gets back to what their expectations are when they enter the space, and I'd be interested in discussing how MOXI primes guests for creative inquiry before/as they enter the museum, through field trip talks, website materials, signage at the front, and Spark interactions.
Finally, relating to your library anecdote, I'd love to know how much guest "satisfaction" actually correlates with learning, in terms of our goals as a museum. I think that Falk is right that guests learn more when they're happy and comfortable, but it is possible to learn new skills (navigating a library, for example) when the facilitator is helpful, but in a way that doesn't exactly match your expectations. So where does this diverge? How far can we push a guest out of their comfort zone without completely turning them off the experience?
-Sam S.
DeleteI enjoyed this Kevin rambling post! I think your library example is really interesting and now that I am thinking about it, I think it would be a beneficial exercise for a lot of individuals who visit the library. I have met a lot of people that do not know how to find books in a library and prompting them and encouraging exploration and proposing a challenge could be much more beneficial than simply being told where to find a book.
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