"Hands on exhibits are very fun!" - Hands-on Experiences in Childhood Museum Memories

We know, as we shared in our previous posts, that objects are central to the early childhood museum memories of adults.  The cool stuff in museum collections make a big impact.

But what about the increasing deployment of hands-on and interactive exhibits and programming?  Does it show up in memories as well? 

As we have been sharing in recent posts, in our most recent national study of museum-goers, we asked our adult respondents to think back to their early childhood museum memories and share them with us. 

  Turns out, while overall over twice as many adults remember objects than hands-on experiences, increasingly, younger adults are also remembering hands-on experiences.  Indeed, adults under 50 are over two times more likely to include a hands-on experience in their memory than adults over 50. 

We took a look at the memories of hands-on experiences, and dug through them to see what we could learn.  The majority of hands-on memories also included objects or exhibitions, as memories often had multiple components and details.  But the memories that only included a hands-on experience tended to be less detailed and vivid than memories that only included an object, only an exhibition, or memories that included both a hands-on experience and an object or exhibition.  Some examples:

Hands-on AND other experience:

• "COSI in the old building on Broad Street.  I remember the entrance to the kids area and also the cobblestone streets in the Yesteryear exhibit.  And of course the machine that makes your hair stand up!"
• "It was the Franklin Institute.  I loved the dioramas and the things I could touch.  I remember a log with holes in it, and I got to put my hand in and try identify what was in the hole based on touch.  It was kind of scarry but alot of fun."

Hands-on ONLY memories:

• "science museum; lots of interactive activities"
• "Touching an octopus"

Given the efficacy of hands-on experiences in creating positive learning outcomes, this lack of detail about what children actively did at a museum is puzzling.  (And we want to note here that we are not questioning the value of hands-on experiences at all – they are an excellent method of learning for children and adults.  We are only examining how memorable the actual hands-on experiences are.)  Perhaps the combination of experiences is, for some reason, more memorable.

Additionally, hands-on experiences turned up a wide variety of museums:

• Art:  "It was the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and saw paintings, sculptures, tapestries, ancient artifacts.  Outside there were sculptures you could touch and a great view."
• Children's:  "childrens museum that had hands-on approach - touch taxidermy animals and live animals w/museum guides explaining information"
• History:  "The first was probably the Garrison House in Westford,I clearly remember making bayberry candles,and seeing all the old farm equipment."
• Science:  "The bike energy making electricity, the cone you point at people to eaves-drop.  :)"
• Zoo or nature center:  "I remember feeding the animals and how thrilling it was."

There was one quirk in the data that we are scratching our heads over.  Men in their 30s and 40s were much less likely to remember a hands-on experience than women of the same age.  They were also three times more likely to remember objects than hands-on experiences.  Perhaps it is because the men responding were more likely to be Ultra-Curious than women, but perhaps busy boys, dashing around a museum floor, are actually noticing, and finding memorable, the cool objects in museums more than we suspected.

So where does that leave us?  While parents overwhelming seek out hands-on experiences for their children, it should be noted that young adults without children are also much more likely than older audiences to enjoy hands-on experiences.  They grew up with them as children, and continue to enjoy them today, indicating that hands-on activities in museums will continue to grow in importance, and also the childhood memories, of adults.  But the increase in hands-on experiences in memories is not at the expense of collections or exhibitions, indicating that they are an important component of museum experiences, along with the amazing collections and other unique experiences that museums provide.

What do you think?  To share, simply click on “comments” below.  (If you are reading this from your e-mail subscription to the blog, please go to our blog's website to add a comment.)

 

Photo courtesy:  Bay Area Discovery Museum

Comments

[Robin Gabriel]

Thanks for yet another wonderful blog post. I've often wondered what kind of lasting impact hands-on programming has had on the visitors at my various museums. Your post now has me thinking of tons of ways to integrate more multi-generational hands-on experiences in programming and exhibitions.

[Timshel Purdum]

I find it interesting that someone's strong memories are of the dioramas at the Franklin Institute--as they don't have dioramas and never have. I work at the Academy of Natural Sciences next door where the dioramas live. Visitors often mix their memories of our two museums. Folks come in to our museum asking where the giant heart is that they remember visiting as a child. Of course, the heart is at the Franklin! Many people visit both museums on the same day so this must have something to do with this. Anyway, the memories are certainly strong ones!

[Susie Wilkening, Reach Advisors]

Hi Timshel - Based on your comment, I agree with your suggestions that the individual visited both institutions and either mixed up the memories or thought the museums were one place.

But yes, so many of the memories were strong, especially of dioramas!

Thanks for your comment.