The learning advantages of a trip to the museum

Museums are rich sources of social, historical, and cultural knowledge. Inspiring curiosity and fostering enthusiasm across diverse subjects, museums are powerful cites for enriching education.

In an era where online sources dominate and separating fact from fiction, and real from a copy is difficult, museums provide a point of truth. Objects held in a museum’s collection can be confidently viewed and understood by students to be the real thing. Similarly, educators at museums can be trusted as sources of accurate, reliable information.

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This means incorporating museum visits into your teaching can help students appreciate the value and importance of seeking out real-world sources, particularly primary sources, and not simply relying on the internet.

Many museum educators devote their life to learning in a particular field. Exposing students to these professional learners can help students see firsthand what life-long learning means. In turn, this may spark their own lifelong learning journey.

Teachers also benefit from the experience and expertise of museum staff. With specialist staff able to work with students, teachers don’t need to be across the intricacies of all subject areas. While teachers have a broad understanding of all topics, experts like those on staff at museums can provide specialised, detailed knowledge in a particular field.

For some subject areas, you might find a dedicated museum. Other museums will have collections or installations which cover a range of curriculum areas. This means several different learning groups can visit the same museum, and then split into smaller groups for learning activities. Look out for visiting exhibits at your local museum that provide new learning opportunities.

Allowing students to explore the museum with little or no direction will give them some agency over their learning, as they make choices about which items or experiences to pursue. Encouraging students to form their own inquiry questions, then investigate and draw conclusions, can lead to strong learning outcomes. When learners can engage directly with their learning and take a proactive approach, they retain information more readily and can develop a longer-term interest in the topic.

Tactile learning—allowing students to touch, feel and interact with objects—can help link neurological pathways and create better understanding, memory, and retention. It can also help students with short attention spans to focus. Museums can provide tactile learning experiences, with some items available for interactivity.

And while we might not like to talk about it, there’s no denying that being in a classroom day in, day out can get a bit boring. Sometimes, both students and teachers need some time away from the school grounds. Museums provide the excitement of a school excursion, combined with strong links to the curriculum.

A museum excursion your students might enjoy

As Melbourne was built on gold, so was the Old Treasury Building. Originally conceived as a safe and secure place for the government to store its precious metal reserves, the money it generated fuelled the creation of many extraordinary buildings, including the Old Treasury. Students enter these original gold vaults to discover the journey people took from their home countries to Victoria and the hardships and rewards it held, including the Eureka Stockade.

While in the museum, students can venture from the past to the present and visit the Executive Council Chamber. Every Bill passed by the Victorian government has been given Royal Assent in this space, from the 1872 Education Act to the 1977 Equal Opportunity Act and more.

In addition to the Old Treasury Building’s one-hour paid programs, extensively researched articles covering a multitude of topics are available free online. The team look forward to welcoming you and your students to experience one of Australia’s most beautiful and historic buildings.