February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
“People forget that in order to learn, in order to interest people, you have to have some kind of inspiration,” argued the education director of the American Museum of the Moving Image.
“And for kids getting out of the classroom and getting into a museum can inspire them and make them see they can learn things. They can understand things that are quite complicated, because it’s being presented in a way that’s using a learning style that they’re good at.
“It’s not just sitting there and having someone tell it to them. They’re actually seeing it or exploring it on their own, and it can affect their attitude toward learning in other places.”
In his book, “Inside the Brain,” for which he interviewed more than 300 researchers, Pulitzer winner Ronald Kotulak made the case that “enriched” environments are better for learning.
Many educators see museums in this context. And Kennedy referred to the latest research on learning that’s been done in the UK. “They’re doing stuff that far ahead of us on memory and experience and emotion,” she said.
Much of the same applies to adults who work in jobs that are not inspiring or who work very hard just to survive and may want to change careers.
“People can continue to self-educate. They continue to grow by visiting a museum,” she said.
She believes that museums must remain accessible and have free days.
“It’s the ‘aha’ the ‘gee-whiz,’ the ‘oh wow’ that museums can provide I think is incredibly important,” she said.