Solitary vs. Shared Learning
I’m not sure that I ever go to a museum whether I’m alone or with someone else with any “agenda” besides having fun. I think the learning, if it happens, just happens on its own. And unfortunately, I know that for me at least, whatever actual facts I learn are quickly forgotten. I remember more the impressions of what I see, whether or not I’m alone or with someone else, or if I’ve been reading the text or talking to someone about something I’ve noticed. Actually, I probably would be more likely to remember something I talked to someone about, but that’s because it would have to have been something so interesting I felt moved to comment on it.
Is it expecting a lot to think/hope people might think/talk about an exhibit after they’ve left the museum? I’ve always thought it would be nice if you could sign up at the museum to get a postcard from an exhibit you really liked to get a fun fact or update or answer to your question in the mail a month later. I think this would be great because it would make you remember and think about what you had seen, and maybe talk about it with the person you were with, especially if it were the answer to a question you both had. I also think it would be better if it were regular mail instead of email because I for one love getting real mail, and I probably wouldn’t sign up to get more email—and even if I did, I’d probably delete it if it appeared in my inbox.