Special Lecture: Thinking and learning through museums

Academic unit or major

Humanities and social science courses

Instructor(s)

Yakup Bektas

Class Format

Lecture

Media-enhanced courses

-

Day of week/Period
(Classrooms)

5-6 Mon (H112)

Class

-

Course Code

LAH.T112

Number of credits

100

Course offered

2021

Offered quarter

2Q

Syllabus updated

Jul 10, 2025

Language

English

Syllabus

Course overview and goals

(SPECIAL NOTE FOR 2020-2021): The way we will conduct this course this year too will probably be different than presently described in the syllabus (due to the COVID 19). For example, students are not required to visit museums physically. Instead we may visit online, virtually, exhibitions or museums that are accessible digitally. Also, the way we will make up groups too will accordingly be a little different. These changes will be discussed and negotiated at the beginning of the class)

THINKING and LEARNING THROUGH MUSEUMS:
Museums are keepers and interpreters of the cultural treasures of the world. Flourishing in number and capacity now as never before, they have evolved into highly diverse forms, yet they always present themselves as centers of aesthetic enjoyment, intellectual stimulation, and learning, in some form. This new course (still a work-in-progress) hopes to make them the subject, source, and actual location of a uniquely direct thinking and learning experience. It aims to explore not only how museums display and tell the story of art, science and technology through material artifacts, but also reciprocally, how visitors learn from the stories of objects and artifacts on display. It encourages students to get to know museums and galleries of all forms and sizes, to view and evaluate comprehensive and individual artworks, artifacts, and specimen, and then discuss their impressions in the class and write short reviews.

Course description and aims

Getting to know about museums and galleries and to recognize them as cultural assets; and to learn from what they put on display. Developing the ability to appreciate and interpret museum displays and artifacts from diverse perspectives.

Keywords

Museums, museology, museum studies, museums and culture, displaying science and technology, museums and nationalism, museums and teaching

Competencies

• Specialist skills
• Intercultural skills
• Communication skills
• Critical thinking skills
• Practical and/or problem-solving skills

Class flow

Conducted in a seminar format except the first couple of classes. Students individually or in groups or in class visit a museum, and view its exhibitions. In the class they introduce these museums and exhibits and discuss the ideas behind them and how well they are designed, organized and presented. They may take a single object or artifact, and relate its history and meanings as revealed or not by the labels and context. (The museums can be limited, for example, to those of science and technology in Tokyo, such as Titech, Ueno (The National Museum of Science and Nature), Tepco, Miraikan; or there may be no limitation depending on students’ interests and convenience. Some class sessions may be held in in museums.)

Course schedule/Objectives

Study advice (preparation and review)

To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.

Textbook(s)

None

Reference books, course materials, etc.

Recommended List: Will be completed later

Evaluation methods and criteria

Based on attendance, class performance, and writing assignments (short essays): roughly %80 for attendance and performance, and %20 for writing assignments

Related courses

• Be determined later

Prerequisites

None

Office hours

One hour after every class. Other times by appointment by email or call.