Formal Learning in Informal Settings—Increased Physics Content Knowledge After a Science Centre Visit

Over the past 50 years, prevalence of interactives in museums and science centres has increased dramatically, with interactive learning proliferating around world. With a current estimated visitation 300 million people each year, free-choice through related venues become major source human over course lifetime. While many studies visitor experience have examined positive changes affective components learning, fewer whether specific scientific content knowledge is included what learnt. This research investigated gains informal learning. Three surveys were conducted at Otago Museum’s centre (Dunedin, New Zealand) visitors eight years older. The main component survey brief “formal” assessment form pre-post multiple-choice test, focus on physics concepts illustrated centre. Self-reported examples learned during visit selected items from Modes Learning Inventory complement data. In prior was age gender dependent, younger females getting significantly lower scores. Notwithstanding, to had an overall average 13% more correct answers test after visiting, independent gender. A flow diagram created visualise presence or absence interactivity. As expected, interactivity found increase