Tuesday 29 July 2008

Museum of London (Revisited): 29 July 2008

Courtesy of Elizabeth Minter


http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/English/EventsExhibitions/Special/LondonsBurning/


This morning the class discussed our paper topics, mine being the accessibility of information via displays and exhibits for the Young Adult. My colleague, Jane Daughtery suggested that I return to the Museum of London to explore the London's Burning: The Great Fire of London 1666 exhibit.

I am really glad that I did. The exhibit provides access to a variety of visitors and addresses numerous learning styles. For instance, the text is a large and simple font style for easy reading. It also provides probing and thought provoking questions for the younger audience such as "How did people cope?" and "Who caused the fire?"

In addition, the height of the objects on display and the text accompanying it are at a reasonable height for the younger visitor while also accommodating the adult visitor. There are also audio and visual accompaniments to the exhibit. Computers allow the visitor to research various aspect of the fire and the time period including themes, people, the timeline of the fire and an "Ask the Curator" aspect.

Every aspect of the exhibit asks the visitor to stop and reflect on the causes, the nature of, and the aftermath of the fire. It invites the visitor to take a part in his/her own education and learning through family activity sheets and poetry/picture projects that are displayed in the exhibit.

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