hamilton He is a member of the San Diego Automotive Museum’s Apprenticeship Committee and lives in San Diego.
Museums are not only places for learning, but also places for collecting and preserving nature and culture. Experts deepen their knowledge by studying such subjects in detail. More casual visitors acquire knowledge that is new to them, with inspiration, deeper understanding, and vivid memories attached to the artifacts they observe. The centrality of objects makes museums a very different learning environment than schools. It comes with written and audio text, but it’s not just an illustration or description; it’s the object itself. Visitors also behave differently than students. Most people choose to be there, and each person is free to move between exhibits at their own pace and in the order they prefer. (The main exception is children who are brought and tutored by parents or teachers.)
Museum curators and educators design exhibits to enhance not only the enjoyment but also the quality of learning among visitors. However, visitors can choose where to focus their attention. You are not constrained by a set curriculum. Also, they are not motivated by earning grades or credits (with the exception of students with assignments). Their learning is driven by intrinsic motivation and curiosity, both of which are hallmarks of lifelong learning and are not confined to school or contained in classrooms or textbooks. In addition to museums, this learning takes place in libraries, places of worship, book clubs, the Internet, and the workplace. Rapid social and technological change has made some knowledge and skills obsolete, making continuous learning increasingly important. A learning society requires a rich learning environment that everyone can choose and access. Museums are a good example of such places.
Designing museums and their exhibits to foster this type of learning is a difficult pedagogical challenge. Teachers must accommodate students with different subject interests and learning methods. However, most college students in art history classes are close in age and have taken the same set of prerequisites, which helps teachers find common ground in their learning. Imagine the challenge of installing exhibits that are appealing and informative to museum visitors of all ages, from novices experiencing the subject for the first time to experts who have written books on the subject. This is the job of curators and museum educators.
Museum visitors learn about the objects they see by reading about them on placards and guidebooks, and hearing about them from docents and audio guides. But rather than just absorbing what is said, they also notice and think about aspects of those objects that arise from their previous experiences, interests, and knowledge, actively engage with them, and make meaning from them. I’ll bring it out. As they learn about the subject matter of the exhibit, they are also learning this independent learning method. With new confidence in your ability to learn outside of school and increased curiosity, you can explore further learning on the same or new topics, either on your own or with others. Museums teach people how to learn while teaching about what they see.
In addition to hosting visitors in their physical locations, some museums extend their reach by sending representatives with samples and illustrations of their collections to people there. The San Diego Automotive Museum takes young people on tours of the museum as an example of such outreach. In a uniquely ambitious initiative, we are also developing an auto mechanic apprenticeship program for high school students. The program is conducted in partnership with Area Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, auto dealerships and repair shops, and combines school-based learning with formal on-the-job learning at auto repair shops to develop highly skilled and employable technicians. Obtain certification as a person. People who pay wages to support their families.
Apprentices learn about auto mechanics in high school and most also take career and technical education courses at community colleges. At the same time, wages increase as skills increase. After completing the program, you can choose to remain employed as an auto repair technician or pursue further training in a high-paying specialty such as restoration or customization. The program leverages the museum’s fascinating collection of automobiles, the expertise of its staff, and its surrounding network of car enthusiasts, dealers, and skilled craftsmen to open new paths to rewarding careers for young people. is.