The goal of this study is to analyse the contents of the middle school social study
related to museum and search for a way to link the course with experiential learning by
special exhibition programs in museum.
According to analysis of this study, it can be stated that the social studies under the 7th
national curriculum is designed with the purpose of qualifying students as the global
citizen based upon the understanding of their mother land and history. Consequently,
learning from museum is considered important with the growing attentions on the
methodologies such as experiential learning, integrative learning and independent learning.
In reality, however, the theory seems to be hardly put into practice. It is because the
museum programs are focused on the elementary school students, and there is little, if any,
research and analysis to find a method of connecting museum with the social studies in
middle schools.
Therefore, it is required to conduct a comprehensive research on the various programs
linking the social study with museum experience. The research is performed in
collaboration with museum officials, teachers, students and their parents. Substantial and
practical information on the museum should be provided in the textbook or teacher's
reference in detail. It is recommended to publish related guide books or journals for
teachers as well as providing training program. Specialists in the museum education are in
the needs who can set up the plans and lead the museum programs customized for the
middle school students. User-friendly methods can be utilized such as the rental of
exhibition, on-line archives on museum web-site, and the mobile museum bus. It is also desirable to develop a the web-based museum tour program responding to the needs and
standards of students. Finally, it is important for the museum tour education to be
positioned as a bridge between schools and local communities and not to remain just
additional support for social studies in the middle schools.