Understanding the adult learning experience inside a science centre : a case study at Esplora’s exhibit building

Abstract

Interactive science centres (ISCs) are educational facilities that provide a space for their visitors to learn science in an informal manner. The main aim of this research is to better understand the adult learning experience within the exhibit buildings inside Esplora interactive science centre. Additionally, the purpose of this research is to provide insights into the complex nature of the learning experience in informal settings. Finally, I provide suggestions on how the exhibit building can be more educationally relevant to adults. The main data for this research was collected through an online and on-site visitor questionnaire in circumstances heavily conditioned by the Covid-19 pandemic. Furthermore, ten visitors were observed engaging with exhibits at Esplora and after interviewed on their experience. Families with children are the most common and frequent visitors at Esplora. Regardless of their identity motivation for visiting Esplora, this research shows that adult visitors feel they have a positive and satisfactory learning experience. Adults feel that they do learn something about different science subjects and feel that the exhibit building is a suitable place for them to learn science. Different types of visitors are influenced by the different types of exhibits and topics offered at Esplora resulting in an overall positive learning experience. The findings in this research indicate that Esplora is providing a space for a positive adult learning experience. However, there is still need to better understand the learning experience of adultsonly groups (i.e. without children) and to discover novel ways to make the exhibit building even more scientifically appealing and relevant to the wider visitor cohort.