Exploring the Personal Responsibility Orientation Model: Self-directed learning within museum education
Open Access
Author:
Banz, Jr., Richard Nicholas
Graduate Program:
Adult Education
Degree:
Doctor of Education
Document Type:
Dissertation
Date of Defense:
March 19, 2009
Committee Members:
Edward W Taylor, Dissertation Advisor/Co-Advisor Edward W Taylor, Committee Chair/Co-Chair Daniele D Flannery, Committee Member George W Boudreau, Committee Member Charles David Kupfer, Committee Member
Keywords:
adult education self-directed learning museum humanism PRO Model social context
Abstract:
Grounded in humanistic philosophy, the intention of this basic-interpretive, qualitative inquiry was to explore self-directed learning (SDL) within the museum environment. Sixteen autonomous learners, aged twenty-five or older, were selected from random visitors among four participating museum sites within the Baltimore, Maryland – Harrisburg, Pennsylvania region. Investigation was conducted into the Personal Responsibility Orientation (PRO) Model as a conceptual framework for understanding SDL within museums and discoveries were revealed into SDL from the perspective of the museum learner. Topics of discussion include: the highly educated and experienced independent learner; the museum gallery or exhibition in the role of non-human facilitator; SDL inside of the museum; the social context of learning; and possible deficiencies and strengths of the PRO Model. The findings have implications for adult education, nonformal education, free choice learning and museum education (also referred to as museum science, museum studies or museology).
