Description: The science museum field has made tremendous advances in understanding museum learning, but little has been done to consolidate and synethesize these findings to encourage widespread improvements in practice. By clearly presenting the most current knowledge of museum learning, ...
Brief description: John H. Falk is executive director of the Institute for Learning Innovation and Sea Grant Professor Emeritus of Free-Choice Learning at Oregon State University. He is known internationally for his work in the area of free-choice learning; the learning that occurs while visiting museums, science centers, zoos, aquariums, parks, watching educational television or surfing the internet for information. His recent research has focused on studying the long-term impacts of free-choice learning institutions; understanding why people utilize free-choice learning settings during their leisure time and helping cultural institutions of all kinds re-think their future positioning and business models in the 21st century. Dr. Falk has authored over two hundred scholarly articles and chapters and has published more than a dozen books in this and related areas.
Review Quotes:
"This anthology is the first in a series of Learning Innovations. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through professionals." --K. Marantz, emeritus, Ohio State University, Choice Reviews
"This will be a useful book for people in the field, especially those new to the profession who want to understand where the field stands today on how people learn in a museum setting. Those with more of a research bent will find a number of the articles enlightening. Practitioners will find structures that help them improve their practice. And those who wish to think deeply about the meaning and purpose of museums will be inspired." --Dennis Schatz, Vice President for Education, Pacific Science Center "In Principle, In Practice should quickly become one of the primary sources of information and guidance for any museum seeking to optimize its role as a learning institution. This compilation of knowledge gained from years of studying learning in museums, combined with practical advice for fostering learning through museum experiences, will be a valuable tool for museum professionals for years to come." --Dan Freas, Museum Experience Director, Conner Prairie "This book is a provocative inquiry into what learning means in a museum environment, and academics and practitioners alike will find lasting value in this broad, deep, and rich exploration of the museum experience. Because learning lies at the heart of a museum's public value, In Principle, In Practice is essential reading for all those who care about the meaning and value of museums as social institutions." --Robert R. Janes, Editor-in-Chief, Museum Management and Curatorship "In Principle, In Practice offers a vital progress report on museum-based learning research to the international community of museum professionals. The essays, taken together, show that the learning research field is in media res, but has made enormous strides over the past decade." --Carol A. Parssinen, Senior Vice President, Center for Innovation, The Franklin Institute Science Museum "The contents of the book are worthy..." --The Tamale "This collection of articles is packed with useful information, examples of exciting museum practice and some research reports that are, at times, pretty heavy going....It is a worthy addition to the Top Ten Museum Education Books started by Christine Castle on the Ham-Ed blog." --May/June 2008, Muse "The articles share visitor and learning research results, innovative learning and community collaboration case studies, ideas for more meaningfully engaging larger audiences, and visions of what can be studied and designed for future museum experiences....In Principle, In Practice provides an important resource for museum education professionals." --AASLH History News "This holistic approach provides a more balanced approach to education that encompasses not only learning, but critical evauation of the methodology of teaching and the contructions of knowledge. Museum educators, especiallt curators, would benefit from more critical analysis of the methods they use to construct knowledge and communicate information to visitors. This in itself might deliver more appropriate learning outcomes for visitors in the next decade..."" --ReCollections