LEARNING & MUSEUMS

They use a variety of methods to educate visitors--images, text, video, timelines, objects, interactives to simulate and manipulate objects.

     The first encounter with the large "fishbowl" was a nice visual, but I had wished there was more text to inform me about what I might encounter through the museum. While each object had a small label accompanying it, an additional wall panel would have been a nice addition. I could gather that these items displayed were likely a mixture of the themes and objects to come, but I had wanted for more text to re-assuure me of this and to introduce me to the exhibit. In addition to the fish bowl there was a covered boat deck that visitors could walk in, oddly placed at the back of the boat deck was a chest of toys and maybe a few dress-up items that appeared to be pirate themed. While I know that it is the maritime museum, there was very little information about pirates noted anywhere else and just thought it odd to incorporate this small chest as a "pirate thing" for what appeared to be a sad attempt to cater to children. I had only wished this were slightly more accessible (in an area that people actually walked by) and "done-up" a little bit more if they were going to go there. If they were going to incorporate a pirate dress up/toy area I felt it should have been done better. There was no real educational or learning tie, it felt like a misrepresentation of all of the other items and objects on display in the museum. 

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     The oil section looks as though it's the most recently renovated display with eye-catching graphics and text panels that provide short and informative descriptions, but then layered more detailed descriptions for those who wish to know more than what you can see from a quick glance. The use of objects is good, not too overwhelming as some displays can be. Creating real spaces that visitors can see and interact with like the cabin bunks and lockers on the upper level and that have been built to replicate an oil rig's living quarters is a great way of bringing text or descriptions to reality. Similarly, the ROV (remote operated vehicles) display where visitors can operate a mini version is a great way to engage visitors in a hands-on, interactive way. This display uses the knowledge building technique (constructivism) as it relates how the ROV operates and functions using the assumption that the visitor might have some prior knowledge of buoyancy and gravity in water. While admittedly, most things maritime are not the most thrilling thing in my opinion, or something I'd readily seek out, I did enjoy the center section on oil far more than I think I would have in any other context. The museum staff has done a good job of breaking down many aspects of this topic into digestible and easy to understand information. I found the ROV interactive to be fun and informative as the only context I had for these devices was to lift debris from underwater wreckage sites, like in the movie Titanic. There was another "touch and feel" activity on the same level as the ROV and it was about marine pollution. Visitors could lift the flaps and touch and feel plastic shells and starfish. I wasn't quite sure what this had to do at all with marine pollution. I could understand having two shells (one that's been affected by pollution and one that's not), but just one shell seemed odd. I was pleased to find on the upper level, a display about oil and it's role as a finite resource as well as its implications for damage to the environment. I wonder how the museum was able to discuss these topics while maintaining oil sponsors and funders? How was that conversation approached? I can't remember if that section had any sponsor information. 

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     It's unfortunate that the building is laid out the way it is. It appears as though the museum has tried working with the current layout as best as they can and have made distinct vertical galleries to accommodate the awkward arrangement of rooms, but it is difficult to experience the museums on a horizontal level because I felt as though I was bouncing from topic to topic across the level I was on. The oil displays appear to run through the center of the museum with the maritime and ship building on one side and art and fishing appear to exist on the other side. While the oil exhibits were very accessible to children and adults alike, I felt like both sides lacked that same level of accessibility. Very few interactives existed on either side of the central portion of the museum. I found the maritime and ship building side just slightly more accessible as the exhibit appeared to be modeled as if on a boat with wooden floors and exposed beams. Physical objects from boats were present and integrated into the display, so instead of looking a photos of an architect's drawing room, you could actually walk into a replica. Unfortunately the fine art and fishing displays barely held my attention, which is unfortunate because I really enjoy fine art. I liked the concept, but felt like stories behind the art was missing from the display. Without the context it felt like it was just a pretty painting. 

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     I really had wished I had a tour guide to give me more context for the displays on the outer sides of the museum. I was perfectly fine exploring the oil exhibit and felt like I got something out of it, but would have liked a little more guidance and relevance for the other exhibit spaces. 

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The location of the museum is really great, I enjoyed learning about the oil industry and boats and then having the opportunity to see those things in real life out the big picture windows from the top level. It really gives relevance to learning. 

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