ICOM COMMS

Museum communicators and educators face a common challenge: engaging young audiences. 👦👧

Through a one-year impact assessment, Museolab based in Lebanon, explored how museum extra-muros activities—grounded in the American educational theorist David Kolb’s experiential learning cycle and Harvard Project Zero thinking routines—shape students’ understanding of cultural heritage and their relationship with museums. 👩‍🎓🏺

The findings are clear: when students experience heritage at school through fun, interactive, hands-on activities, they engage more, reflect deeply, and are more likely to visit museums. Students prefer experiential learning over lectures, as shown by high participation and positive feedback. 🤹‍♀️🤹‍♂️

Led by cultural mediator and educator Nelly Abboud , with research conducted by Dr. Céline Merheb and Marilyne Haddad, the project involved collaborative development with cultural organizations, Saint John School, and local youth group. Each partner contributed to the program's design, implementation, and evaluation, offering insights into how museums can extend their impact beyond their walls.

👉 Are you a museum professional from Lebanon or Syria? We invite you to join ICOM COMMS and be the first in your community.