Let me tell you a story. Illustrated storytelling as a tool for museum learning

Abstract

This thesis analyses the use of illustrated storytelling in a museum environment and the impact it has on children’s learning. The analysis is based on a study made at the Maritime Museum in Oskarshamn. When starting the study the hope was to prove an increase in the children’s inner geographical world and how it is connected to the exchange of goods and ideas. During the work process these outcomes were revised and broadened. The reason for this was some difficulty in successfully evaluating the hoped for outcomes and the recognition of other, unexpected outcomes that were relevant and interesting. Consequently, behavioural, emotional and creative learning outcomes are therefore in focus for this study, with less weight put on fact based knowledge outcomes. In other words, this study explores illustrated storytelling as a trigger for curiosity to continue exploring and learning, connecting to ones family’s history and facilitating a cultural and social understanding of the museum and its role in society. The results from the data collected during the course of the study indicates that illustrated storytelling has a broadly positive impact on children’s visitor experience and learning in the museum. It is a working concept and more research is needed to ascertain the full impact of its use.