Meaning-making in family visits to the museum: A study at the Museu da Natureza in Piauí, Brazil

Abstract

In this study, we examine the conversations and interactions of families visiting the Museum of Nature (Piaui, Brazil) to understand the meaning-making process. Seven groups of families participated in the study, with a total of 21 subjects. The visits were recorded with a GoPro camera attached to an elastic vest-shaped support at chest height. The audiovisual material was analyzed using Dedoose software. Our results show that families interacted as autonomous learners, creating meaning from their experience with the exhibition. Conversations about science and previous experiences helped people build, connect, and understand the process of scientific knowledge. In addition, we found that reading helped to understand the expository themes, and bodily strategies, such as gestures, complemented and enriched the group's forms of communication for meaning-making.

Keywords:
Science museum; Meaning-making; Informal spaces; Verbal interaction; Body interaction