Family learning interactions in museums: a case study.

This paper reports on the evaluation of a family activity bag trial and in particular assesses the impact of independent family activities on the gallery experience of family users. In 2001 a series of pilot family activity bags were developed for Royal Albert Museum, Exeter, UK. The aim was to encourage museum visitors with children to visit the World Cultures Gallery, and to increase both the amount of time spent within the gallery and the enjoyment derived from it. By providing a focus on key themes of the collection – explorers, collectors and collecting issues, use of materials - and by concentrating on selected artefacts, the activities were planned to provide opportunities for engagement with the objects and generate group interactions as a fertile bed for meaningful learning experiences for both children and adults. The “take home bags” were intended to extend the museum activities and museum experience beyond the visit.