94109 - Digital Environments, Museums and Heritage Education

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student: - knows the contemporary debate related to the educational function of museums and heritage pedagogy with particular reference to national and international guidelines; - knows the main elements of museum and heritage didactics in relation to different fields of social and cultural education; - is able to analyze the main characteristics of heritage contexts in relation to different users/audiences in order to guide the design of educational pathways; - is able to identify basic skills related to digital environments in heritage and museum education contexts; - is able to use digital tools and environments to support physical museum spaces and the pathways offered therein; - knows the main strategies for mediating heritage content and making it usable for audiences; - identify the elements for a design and implementation of exhibition layouts in real and virtual spaces; - is able to independently carry out research to learn about different Italian, European and non-European museum institutions and analyze their best practices.

Course contents

The course aims to explore the main aspects related to the evolution of the museum from its origins to contemporary times, focusing on the educational role of the museum, the professionalism of the museum educator, and the design of educational interventions aimed at different types of audiences in real and digital contexts.

In this regard, the following topics will be explored:

• the history of the museum;
• the museum audiences (audience studies);
• the theories of learning in museum settings;
• the educational-communication strategies and educational models for heritage mediation;
• museums and territory: participatory spaces for audience engagement;
• museums and digital environments (digital platforms, virtual and augmented reality, social networks, apps);
• the design of educational pathways in real and digital environments;
• the professionalism of the museum educator.

Readings/Bibliography

Required texts:

- Cataldo L., Paraventi M., Il museo oggi. Modelli museologici e museografici nell'era della digital transformation, Hoepli, Milano, 2023 (Seconda edizione), parts I, II, IV.

- Panciroli C., Le professionalità educative tra scuola e musei: esperienze e metodi nell'arte, Guerini, Milano 2016 (chapters. 3,4,6 and appendix 3).

One text of your choice from the following:

- Russo V., Il museo tra scuola e lavoro. Giovani, alleanze educative e nuove progettualità, FrancoAngeli, Milano, 2022.

- Macauda, A., Arte e innovazione tecnologica per una didattica immersiva, FrancoAngeli, Milano, 2018.

- Mandarano N., Musei e media digitali, Carocci, Roma, 2019.

Teaching methods

• Frontal lectures
• Large and small group discussion
• Practical exercises
• Case studies
• Real and virtual visits to museums
• Design of digital exhibits

Assessment methods

Written test with short essays on the readings and teaching materials indicated in the examination program.

Teaching tools

• In-depth texts
• Multimedia resources (images, documentation videos, film trailers, ...)
• Digital platforms (IOL,TEAMS) and use of a collaboration space within the MOdE-Museo Officina dell'Educazione, with special reference to white rooms
• Seminars with experts

For further requests students are requested to get in touch in advance with the lecturer, who within the limits of her possibilities and taking into account the composition of the group will provide specific tools to support teaching.

Office hours

See the website of Veronica Russo