Learning While Having Fun: Museums

As we know, education isn’t confined to the classrooms—it’s not just a collection of facts and
rules. Instead, education is a lifelong journey that begins at home and continues throughout
our lives. When viewed as a long road, schools form just one segment of this broader process.
Today, formal schooling often begins around age six, introducing students to interdisciplinary
fields of study. This holistic approach not only nurtures well-rounded individuals but also
enriches multiple areas of society along the way.

What Role Do Museums Play in Interdisciplinary Education?

Museums are living chronicles that anchor timelines with tangible evidence. Beyond their
traditional roles of preserving and displaying artifacts, museums have evolved to emphasize
education through “next-generation museology.” Alongside historical, archaeological, natural
history, and ethnographic museums, new-age spaces like digital experience and interactive
museums have emerged thanks to advancing technology.
These spaces reinforce historical awareness in education while also answering the curiosity of
individuals of all ages about the past. School-organized museum visits have become a
cornerstone of this hands-on learning.

How Do Experience Museums Fill an Educational Gap?

Technology, a hallmark of our age, has transformed daily life in profound ways—making
information more accessible than ever. This accessibility has accelerated scientific research
and enriched learning opportunities.
In the context of museums, experience museums have bridged a significant gap. While
traditional museums offer information through exhibits and plaques, experience museums
immerse visitors in ancient stories, pivotal historical moments, or even let them visualize a
gladiator’s helmet as it might have looked in action. By leveraging technology, these
museums bring history alive, sometimes positioning you face-to-face with that gladiator.

Experience Museums and the Concept of “Edutainment”

Experience museums embody the concept of “edutainment”—the fusion of education and
entertainment—proposed by researchers like Walldén and Soronen (2004). These spaces
provide opportunities for visitors of all ages, particularly young people, to explore history,
science, and art through captivating presentations. Immersive experiences powered by

advanced storytelling appeal especially to Gen Z, whose leisure activities are often rooted in
digital platforms. Here, technology enhances learning, turning it into an engaging and
impactful process.
Prominent examples of this innovative museology in Türkiye and beyond include the Hagia
Sophia History and Experience Museum and the Ephesus Experience Museum. At the
Ephesus Museum, visitors step into the daily lives and monumental moments of the ancient
city, while the Hagia Sophia Museum immerses them in its architectural and historical
significance through stunning visuals. By placing visitors into the heart of history, these
museums ensure that the learning process is not only memorable but transformative,
solidifying their essential role in education.

Sources:

• Walldén S and Soronen A (2004). Edutainment From Television and
  Computers to Digital Television. Finland: University of Tampere Hypermedia
  Laboratory.
• İşçi, Ceren et al. (2020). “Müze Deneyimi: Yönetim ve Ziyaretçi
  Perspektiflerinin Karşılaştırılması,” Tourism Academic Journal.