Learning from and with museum objects: design perspectives, environment, and emerging learning systems

Sociocultural approaches emphasize the systemic, context-bound nature of learning, which is mediated by other people, physical and conceptual artifacts, and tools. However, current educational systems tend not to approach learning from the systemic perspective, and mostly situate learning within classroom environments. This design-based research aims to seek answers to these challenges by enhancing the use of museum objects and inquiry tools in learning through developing a new kind of virtual environment. By using learning objects that represent physical objects, the students can develop their own research questions, and choose related museum artifacts and inquiry tools with which to find answers to their questions during forthcoming museum visits. This study aims to examine what kinds of learning systems emerged when three different student groups collaboratively designed their visits to the Finnish Forest Museum based on their own interests and afforded resources in the learning environment. Data analysis indicates that a tool-driven system typically seems to represent the approach of primary school students, with an object-driven system for technical college students, and a strategic, research-question-driven system for teacher-education students. When considering the desired effects of technology and open environments on emerging learning systems and processes, the results of the study suggest that self-organization and free choice do not necessarily lead to research-question-driven learning processes, unless the variation in student approaches, design-process scaffolding, and paying attention to the social arrangements, and to the use of tools during the implementation of inquiry activities are all taken into account.