Destination sites are often viewed as having the potential to introduce people to art, ideas, history, nature, and knowledge. To engage the adult visitor effectively, education programs can use traditional adult education principles to enhance the visit for the purpose of learning. The education staff are ultimately responsible for creating the opportunities for learning that may arise from the experience of the visit. The fields of interpretation and museum curation continually assess the impact of placement of kiosks, signs, interactives, and displays on learning. Increasingly, institutions are using interpretive layering, which provides information in small, layered levels so that visitors can choose to absorb the essence of the exhibit without filtering through complex descriptions or discussions.
Learners can engage in giving longer time to selective data or discussion.
Natural learning, as described by McCombs et al. In the nature of their attraction, nonformal institutions provide a setting where this natural learning can occur. Ultimately, the role of the educator in this setting is to enhance the attraction and help guide the adult visitor to new levels of understanding and action. Elva Farrell is Executive Director of the Gulf Coast World of Science in Sarasota, Florida. The Value of Natural History Collections.