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  • • Engaging Students Using Mobile Devices in a Technology Museum

Engaging Students Using Mobile Devices in a Technology Museum

By Susanna Mann.

Published by The International Journal of the Inclusive Museum

This paper reports on student engagement after using mobile devices in a technology museum. The introduction of mobile devices can stimulate students’ interest in their museum visits. This study provided an opportunity for a group of junior high school students participating in a museum visit with the help of different mobile and learning technologies. Students performed a series of tasks including taking pictures of the exhibits, creating their own digital photo story about the exhibits, annotating and audio recording the text information with reference to the museum exhibits, and sometimes accessing guided internet resources using their mobile devices in the museum. Through observation and a focus group interview, it was discovered that students were highly engaged and enthusiastic about using mobile devices in the museum space. Students felt that they were more eager to learn about the information provided in the exhibits compared to an ordinary museum visit. Students spent hours in performing their tasks without showing any signs of feeling bored or disengaged. They even wanted to participate further with enthusiasm. Nearly all students reported that these ‘fun’ and ‘cool’ emerging technologies motivated them to learn the exhibits. Mobile devices show the potential to enhance student engagement and stimulate their motivation to engage with museum exhibits in a Technology museum.

International Journal of the Inclusive Museum, Volume 2, Issue 3, pp.33-40. Article: Print (Spiral Bound). Article: Electronic (PDF File; 1.369MB).

Susanna Mann

University of Sydney, NSW, Australia